Dare I ponder the impossible...winning out?

Unless OSU beats MSU and then loses to Minnesota, Indiana, and Michigan.  Michigan has the head to head with OSU.  MSU would have to lose out to OSU, Maryland, Rutgers, and PSU.

Otherwise the best MIchigan can hope for is a mid to low level bowl game and an 8-5 record.

Is it even possible for us to go on the road and not turn the ball over 3+ times?

I wouldn't say Hoke would automatically save his job, but it would leave the possibility of retaining him. It would certainly make the decision more difficult....I mean, if Hoke can get this team even now to win AT Ohio, then you have to at least consider keeping him. And there are about a million other factors to take into account in that scenario. 

Brady will be 2-2 vs. ohio, 1-3 vs. sta*e, 2-2 vs. the golden domers, and 2-2 in bowls with a BCS Bowl win.  Additionally, he played several tough games close, including the 2013 Outback Bowl vs. South Carolina and 2013 vs. Ohio.  He was named B1G Coach of the Year, as well.  

The worst stretch, by far will be from Penn St. 2013 to Sta*e 2014, but IF we win out with good play it will look like that stretch is over.

There is also a lot of youth on this team. Most of the players are in their first two years and an overwhelming majority are in their first three years.  Players usually turn the corner in their second or third year.  That youth might be turning the corner now. 

Finally, the team is working in new defensive and offensive systems this year and those systems take awhile to put into place.  

If UM wins out and it looks like those systems and young players are coming together, Hoke and the staff should stay. 

Was crushed in year 2 and 3, you can break it down however you want but the answers lay on those seasons. Season 4 is just the reaction.

1 game at a time. I'd like for Team 135 go into the shoe with couple of complete,SOLID played games first before dreaming...what if!

They would not have to just "win out." They'd have to win in convincing fashion. No last-second "fire drill" FGs to win, but three honest-to-goodness victories that showed a bit of domination. The offense would have to be a scoring machine, one that showed it could move the ball in the air or on the ground consistently against a real defense. And our defense would have to be an aggressive shut-down unit, one that could smother the other team's offense. That way, Hoke could stand at the pressers and basically say, "See? The boys are finally getting it. This is the kind of team I can build if you'll give me the time."

In other words, they'd have to become a completely different team than the one they've been since the back half of last season. And while that's fun to think about, it just ain't happening.

I've wondered the same thing.  I would think that if that did happen Hoke would be retained as he would be able to point to actual, in season progress and development of the team and actual, in season improvement.

But I think the likelyhood of it actually happening is about the 2.5% LS& A outlines above.

I can see us winning this week against a bad Northwestern team.  A home game against Maryland is also a winnable game.  And then "The Game" where anything can happen.

Hoke & Staff will still be gone regardless though.  a 6-6 or 7-6 beatinga another bad team in a bad bowl doesn't change anything.

I honestly dont remember the last time a Hoke coached team won on the road.... Northwestern? Dileo's slide into the place holder.  Not going to even waste my energy to think of this team winning out after beating a terrible IU team.

I think the odds are pretty good it happens.  We'll beat NW, and barring a rash of costly turnovers we should take care of MD Then it comes down to pulling it off in Columbus.  At that point that game would look like a toss-up, at least in my sunny mind.

After Indiana we can say we have a solid defense that is now creating a few turnovers, reliable kicking game, and an emerging running threat.  Barring big mistakes those elements should keep us in any game.

but don't bet on it.

Someone has made this post after every game of the season. If its a loss, then its "What if the team rally's and pulls it off?". After a win, its "What if this is the spark they needed?".

This is a poor team that has performed the same way all season. Why do we need to speculate the "if" every single week? Lets just take it one game at a time.

but, LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL

Ponder that for a moment. It's been a while. Can't see it changing this year.

If we won out this year and kept Hoke, the vibe around the program next year when we are 3-3 going into the MSU game will be Hiroshima-esque. 

Edit: Honestly, looking at next year's schedule with Brady Hoke at the helm, I can't help but feel we'd be in a similar spot. 

Utah away you have to chalk up as a loss. Split between Oregon State/BYU. UNLV is a win. Maryland away is a loss. Northwestern at home, probably a win. 

So there is 3-3 to start the season. Then you've got Sparty (probable loss), then three winnable games (Minnesota, Rutgers, Indiana). So at best you're looking at 6-4. Penn State away (6-5) and then Ohio State (probable loss, 6-6). 

Keeping Hoke seems like a lost cause no matter what. 

Win out.  Expecting a Jim Mora GIF any minute.  It would be a beautiful thing, but OSU had their B1G scare at PSU.  They are beatable, as VT has shown with great defense and MSU will show this weekend, but Devin needs to take a couple Adderall before that game and be able to scramble into open space for it to happen in Cbus.OSU's Oline has improved a bit since VT.  Maybe JT Barrett will be as dinged up as Devin or Braxton were last year.  There is always hope.  But, I am not sure if we are fully aware that we have Hope.

If Harbaugh gives any indication he would come back, then the change has to happen.  If we pass on Harbaugh again then he'll shun us for life.