Can Michigan Football win a national championship with Jim Harbaugh?

Jim Harbaugh explained his interest in the NFL to Mitch Albom of the Detroit Free Press and he’s coming back to win a national title with Michigan football. 

Michigan football‘s Jim Harbaugh is a different guy. We have always known that and his latest dance with the NFL is just another sign of that.

But after all, it’s hard to blame Harbaugh for his NFL interest. I believe him when he says he wants to win the Super Bowl and he even said he was going to take the Minnesota job if it felt right, but as he told Mitch Albom of the Detroit Free Press, it wasn’t 100 percent on both sides.

"“There was a tugging at me that I was once that close to a Super Bowl and I didn’t get it. Some NFL jobs came open. I was contacted by the (Minnesota) Vikings,” Harbaugh said. “For better or for worse, it was something I wanted to explore. I went in thinking, ‘I’m gonna have 100 percent conviction on this, and if they (Minnesota) have 100 percent conviction on this, then it’s something I’m gonna do.”"

And it’s clear, he still loves Michigan, as he always has.

“In a nutshell, I love Michigan,” Harbaugh told Album. “I love every player. I love every family.”

And while he knows he can’t win the Super Bowl with the Wolverines, he did say winning a national championship was the next best thing and with his return to Ann Arbor official, that’s his stated goal going forward.

And as a Michigan football fan, I’m all for it. But is it possible?

“Sure, the Super Bowl is the greatest prize in our sport,” Harbaugh said. “But winning a national championship. That’s pretty darn great. Let’s do that.”

Can Harbaugh and Michigan win a national title?

The Wolverines haven’t won the national championship since 1997 and this past season was their best run at it since that magical season. However, the loss to Georgia was an eye-opener and showed how far Michigan football still has to go.

But with a trip to the College Football Playoff, and a win over Ohio State, Michigan football cleared two hurdles many didn’t think they could.

The Buckeyes felt insurmountable, yet with another win or two, not only can the rivalry shift, but recruiting will start to shift too and that’s where the difference is needed.

Michigan football has always had a blue-chip ratio strong enough to make it a national title contender according to Bud Elliott’s formula.

What the Wolverines have lacked is an elite quarterback and some elite skill guys. Chris Perry and Braylon Edwards were the last first-round picks at running back/wide receiver and that was almost two decades ago.

But with J.J. McCarthy, Donovan Edwards, Andrel Anthony, Blake Corum, and a bunch of talented incoming recruits, the Wolverines have the talent to go on a major run. As Harbaugh said back in December, “This feels like just the beginning.”

We’ll see if he’s proven right.

First things first, Harbaugh is going to have to mend some fences. He will need to sell his assistant coaches, players, and recruits on the fact that he’s done with the NFL. That his Michigan is the priority.

It shouldn’t be hard because he’s going to attack this job as he always has, “With an enthusiasm unknown to mankind.” That’s what Jim Harbaugh has always done and what he’ll continue to do.

Can he win a national championship at Michigan? I have no idea. I’d probably lean towards no, just because of the current state of college football and how hard it is to beat the powers that be.

I also wouldn’t bet against Jim Harbaugh and whether or not he succeeds, I’m excited to watch him try to win a national title at Michigan for the foreseeable future.