Michigan Football: 5 must-win games for Wolverines in 2021

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - OCTOBER 24: Head coach Jim Harbaugh of the Michigan Wolverines looks on in the second quarter of the game against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at TCF Bank Stadium on October 24, 2020 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) /

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Syndication: Detroit Free Press /

Michigan State

I know that Ohio State is the most important game on the schedule every year. But in terms of games, the staff can’t afford to lose, this is No. 1.

If you think Jim Harbaugh has pressure on him now, watch what happens if he loses to Mel Tucker again. Tucker already pulled off an upset last year in Ann Arbor and if Michigan football doesn’t bounce back this year, it will cause an all-out panic.

While Harbaugh obviously wants to overtake Ohio State, one of the first goals, when he took the job, was re-claiming the state. Michigan State had taken over as the top program and reached the College Football Playoff in his first season, as well as winning the Big Ten title.

Harbaugh and U-M then won three of four in the series, before dropping last year’s game and Harbaugh’s record to 3-3 against Sparty. That’s not good enough and 3-4 would be unimaginable.

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