3 keys for Michigan football to beat Maryland without Jim Harbaugh

Michigan football faces Maryland on Saturday and Jim Harbaugh won’t be on the sidelines. Here are three keys to a Wolverines win. 

There was some hope that Michigan football head coach Jim Harbaugh would have a chance to challenge his suspension by the Big Ten, however, Harbaugh dropped his case against the Big Ten and agreed to serve his three-game suspension.

We’ll see what else happens. Some have speculated this means there was more evidence uncovered, but if that was really the case, I’m not sure the Big Ten would be happy with three games.

The league acknowledged that Harbaugh didn’t have any connections to the Connor Stalions in-person scouting operation. If anyone else on the coaching staff did, it could lead to more penalties.

But outside of that, Sherrone Moore will coach the next two games and then it will be Jim Harbaugh again, hopefully for the Big Ten title game and a playoff game.

Either way, I hope Harbaugh coaches a bunch more games for Michigan football. As far as winning on Saturday without him, here are three keys.

Start fast

Momentum is always important, but getting off to a strong start is important in this game for a couple of reasons.

For one, Maryland is a team with enough talent to make some headaches for Michigan football, but the Terps have to believe and they fell apart quickly against Ohio State and Penn State.

If Michigan gets off to a strong start, they might lose their resolve in what’s a defining game for this program, which is searching for a signature win over Michgan, Penn State, or Ohio State.