Two Rivals Vanquished, One to Go

Submitted by The Mad Hatter on November 16th, 2019 at 5:10 PM

Ok, so we've already lost two games, which means we're not going to the playoffs or the Big 10 championship game.

That said, we not only beat Notre Dame and Michigan State, we pounded the hell out of them.

There is only one thing left to do, and that's beat Ohio State. Can we do it? You're Goddamn right we can!

jsquigg

November 16th, 2019 at 11:52 PM ^

This has been one of the most satisfying wins in the Harbaugh era.  It went from looking disjointed and awful to looking like we're being set up for another dong punch at the very least.

This was by a substantial margin the best game under Gattis.  If they can dominate Indiana I'm going to be downright delusional.

Go Blue!

UMinSF

November 16th, 2019 at 5:13 PM ^

That's the problem with the playoff - people forget to enjoy the good wins.

I, for one, am having a fantastic day - hope all of you are as well. 

So nice to crush 2 rivals! This is fun! 

Beat aOSU!

jmblue

November 16th, 2019 at 5:21 PM ^

I've changed my tune about playoff expansion - I'd go for an 8-team or even 12/16 team playoff.  The landscape has changed so much that anything outside the top four now feels like failure.  

This Michigan team has made huge progress over the course of the season.  Since the middle of the 2nd quarter against PSU, Michigan has outscored its opponents 148-38. I feel that Michigan is now a top 10-level team and it's a shame we won't get the chance to prove it even if we upset OSU.

Goldenrod Mandude

November 16th, 2019 at 5:42 PM ^

Harbaugh has a playoff plan that makes a ton of sense.  Let’s face it.  The way NCAA division 1 football  determines their champion has as much in common with ice skating as it does any other playoff.  Southern teams should have to come north of the Mason Dixon line to play football in the cold if they are a lower seed etc. I don’t have the picture of it, but it made the rounds a week or so ago

snarling wolverine

November 16th, 2019 at 5:56 PM ^

For us this season, the Game is only for bragging rights, even though we're playing like a really good team right now.  That sucks.

In any other NCAA sport we'd be talking about how we're rounding into form in time for the playoff.  But because this is football, we're talking about how we're going to play Florida in a dumb Central Florida bowl for the 78th time in the last 79 years*.

 

*Slight exaggeration

Perkis-Size Me

November 16th, 2019 at 5:16 PM ^

My heart won’t allow me to think about OSU right now, because I’m 95% sure of how that game is going to go. 

Another problem for another day. For now, enjoy ending Dantonio’s career. 

greymarch

November 16th, 2019 at 5:24 PM ^

Take note: Sparty played at Ohio State, and lost 34-10.  Sparty played at Michigan, AND LOST 44-10.  Intriguing....  #GoBlue

 

Looks like UM will move up 2 or 3 spots in the CFP poll this week.  Really hoping UM can get into the top ten of the CFP poll before the OSU game.  It's gonna be close.

WalterWhite_88

November 16th, 2019 at 5:36 PM ^

Harbaugh's Michigan teams are now 1-1 against Notre Dame and 3-2 against MSU. I thought people said his teams can't beat their rivals? Other than OSU, he's shown that Michigan can beat its rivals with him as head coach. If not for a freak play in 2015 and John O'Korn in 2017, he would be 5-0 against MSU. 

Human Torpedo

November 16th, 2019 at 5:41 PM ^

Have not had a trifecta since 2003. It helps that all three games were or will be in the safe confines of the Big House if we achieve that. But as they say "All's fair in Love and War and Scheduling Rivalry Games"

freelion

November 16th, 2019 at 6:02 PM ^

I think it's possible and this feels like the year. Disappointing we are out of the division race though. We really should have beaten PSU. The slow start was inexcusable.

JPC

November 16th, 2019 at 6:14 PM ^

The slow start was 100% understandable. They took longer than ideal to install that offense. 

Clearly gattis is a good coach, but maybe his lack of experience meant that it took the team an extra game or two to get comfortable with his scheme. 

NorCalMfan

November 16th, 2019 at 6:46 PM ^

I still have fond memories of 93,95,and 97.  The first two nobody gave Michigan a chance.  It's time for some old school Big House magic!  I don't want to just see a win, OSU is overdue for a beating!

BlueHills

November 16th, 2019 at 6:56 PM ^

What on earth happened in Sparta over the last few years? To be crushed by the Athenians?

I kinda think it was Harbaugh making M resurgent, recruiting better, and coaching better. And yes, I know the man isn’t perfect, but then, who is?

Gotta say this: Harbaugh is more adaptable than Mork. He realized he needed a different offense and got one, for better or worse, but he was willing to take a chance.

Mork, on the other hand, shuffled his buddy-deck.

I’m gonna confess something; I’m loyal to my friends, too. I get it. You need to be ruthless to be a D-1 coach, Not all that many coaches have a killer instinct.