Was Ohio State game Jim Harbaugh’s best with Michigan Football?

Since Jim Harbaugh returned to his alma mater in 2015, the Michigan Wolverines have been through it all. Despite calls for his job after going 2-4 in 2020, Harbaugh stayed the course and rebuilt Michigan football as a college football powerhouse.

Was his most recent win at Ohio State his best during his time coaching the Wolverines?

The short answer is a resounding yes. Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan football team went into Columbus as nine-point underdogs and knocked off Ohio State on the road for the first time since 2000 with a dominant 45-23 victory. Even more impressive, Harbaugh did this without Heisman Trophy candidate Blake Corum.

Despite a slow start in the first quarter, Michigan football looked dominant. The Wolverine offense scored 28 points in the second half while the defense held the Buckeyes to merely three.

Jim Harbaugh’s coaching staff did this with first-year coordinators Jesse Minter, Sherrone Moore, and Matt Weiss.

Harbaugh and the coaching staff completely flipped the script on Ohio State. Last year’s game plan was simple: dominate the line of scrimmage and run the ball.

Michigan’s offensive line mixed with the snowy Ann Arbor weather made this successful. However, this year was different. Without Corum, the Wolverines had to adapt.

Jim Harbaugh’s finest hour

Michigan’s offense went into Columbus and beat the Buckeyes at their own game. The Wolverines turned this game into a track meet; the exact thing Ohio state wanted and won.

The Wolverines played fast, physical, and beat Ohio State behind JJ McCarthy and the passing game. Obviously, Donovan Edwards two rushing touchdowns helped seal Michigan’s victory.

The most impressive coaching decision in this game came in the third quarter when Michigan decided to go for it on a third down. With only one yard needed, everyone in the stadium was expecting a run. Instead, Harbaugh used linebacker-turned-running back, Kalel Mullings to throw a jump pass to Luke Schoonmaker for the first down.

Even coach Harbaugh’s brother, John Harbaugh, was impressed by the win. The Baltimore Ravens head coach texted his brother after the game saying, “This was your finest professional hour.” Considering the brothers coached against each other in Super Bowl XLVII, this is quite the compliment.

As incredible as last year’s 42-27 win at home felt, this year on the road was so much sweeter. Jim Harbaugh showed the Wolverines are legit, beat Ohio State and Michigan State in the same year, and proved Ryan Day was born on third base.