Programs with 10+ wins 3 of the last 4 years
Here it is:
Alabama (4)
Clemson (4)
Ohio State (4)
Oklahoma (4)
Notre Dame (3)
Michigan (3)
Wisconsin (3)
Oklahoma State (3)
Pending future results:
Penn State
Washington
Michigan is one of 8 to 10 teams to have at least 3 team win seasons over the last 4 years. How many of those programs were coming off a Hoke like catastrophe that cratered two recruiting classes that would be entering their best years in 2017 and 2018?
At the very least, Harbaugh has Michigan back in the top-10 range.
November 25th, 2018 at 3:25 PM ^
Harbaugh has returned Michigan to one of the best teams in the country. And he's doing it in arguably the toughest division/conference in football. But again, he hasn't beaten OSU and so it just won't matter to a decent portion of the fanbase. And that sucks, because while nobody would say they are happy with how yesterday ended, Michigan was a HELL of a lot worse off before he showed up.
November 25th, 2018 at 3:29 PM ^
Right. Zero people looked at yesterday and said "Oh, that's actually okay."
But man, the people pretending like walking into the Michigan job in 2014 was the same thing as walking into the Ohio State job in 2011 are honestly fucking crazy. That seems to be the difference between the segments of the fan base right now. One wants near impossible results based on the circumstances while the other recognizes the reality of the situation.
November 25th, 2018 at 4:19 PM ^
There also seems to be a difference between segments who think "contending" is a synonym for "winning like Alabama" and segments who think "contending" means "being in contention", which we have been.
November 25th, 2018 at 3:30 PM ^
I agree with you about the amount of success Harbaugh truly has had at Michigan.
The only problem is the fact that the expectations have changed in college football.
30 years ago it was acceptable to have a very good season and go to a very good bowl game.
Now, anything short of a conference title and making the CFP is unacceptable to the vast majority of fans at many of the top programs.
To me, we need to recalibrate what success looks like. As a Michigan fan, I am ok with where things stand. Michigan was relevant nationally for 12 weeks. They lost a football game to a really talented OSU team yesterday. I've had a lot of fun watching this team play. I am proud of the way this team played. They put up a turd of a game yesterday...my life will go on and so will the University of Michigan. Harbaugh will make some changes because that is what good coaches do. This team will return a bunch of talent next season and I will be cheering for them come late November once again.
Go Blue
November 25th, 2018 at 3:41 PM ^
But for that to happen you need a couple things even if you are a good coach (or in the case of James Franklin...probably not so good):
Favorable circumstances, like Wisconsin being the only good team in their division, so they get a lot of shots at a conference championship.
Outright luck, like Penn State in 2016 or Michigan State in 2015.
Consistent, high level recruiting like Ohio State. Michigan has not had this. Years like 2014 and 2015 were set up to screw the last two years. Meanwhile, Ohio State reels in top 10 classes year after year.
November 25th, 2018 at 3:53 PM ^
Nobody here expects to win the big ten and go to the playoff every year. Stop with this. We're upset because we've seen MSU, PSU, and OSU win the division since Harbaugh has been here and we have yet to win it, even before Harbaugh. I don't think it's unreasonable to expect to win the division once and a while, especially considering it was gift wrapped for us this year.
November 25th, 2018 at 3:58 PM ^
Gift-wrapped in the form of travelling to 10-1 Ohio State, the second most talented team in the country.
Unfortunately for us, we didn't get lucky like 2016 Penn State or 2015 Michigan State.
November 25th, 2018 at 3:53 PM ^
Nobody here expects to win the big ten and go to the playoff every year. Stop with this. We're upset because we've seen MSU, PSU, and OSU win the division since Harbaugh has been here and we have yet to win it, even before Harbaugh. I don't think it's unreasonable to expect to win the division once and a while, especially considering it was gift wrapped for us this year.
November 25th, 2018 at 3:58 PM ^
Exactly....
I remember watching the Lloyd Carr era teams, and always losing to teams that we were supposed to beat (including a 7-5 OSU team), and the chance for the national championship within the first 3 games. Always feeling disappointed, wanting a new coaching staff, but proud of the fact that we were Michigan. I used to make fun of Kentucky or Indiana fans that were acting like their 7 win coach was God.
Fast forward to the post Carr-pre Harbaugh era. Suddenly I was in the same place as those I made fun of. Only watching games because I love the maize and blue, but not having any fun. It was a bad time as a Michigan fan. Not to mention....at that same time.... Beilein wasn't exactly tearing it up either (As much as he's loved today, many people were calling for him to be fired a few years ago). It was miserable watching games. Miserable seeing THREE rivals enjoying success (MSU, OSU, and Notre Dame all eventually going to the playoffs), while we were hoping to become bowl eligible.
The Harbaugh era has taken over, and I find myself again disappointed with losing to OSU and not making the playoffs.....because we are good enough to do so. Having fun watching a Michigan season full of victories. Games actually matter. Yes....I'm thrilled with the direction of the program, under Harbaugh, and when it gets even better (championships), then It'll be that much sweeter given the road traveled. Just like Beilein....
November 25th, 2018 at 3:36 PM ^
The last 40 hours have shown me the country club mentality is still a thing and that is really sad.
November 25th, 2018 at 4:07 PM ^
How DARE fans choose to look on the bright side of a sports outcome they are powerless to change?
November 25th, 2018 at 3:41 PM ^
While I believe this supports the narrative that Coach Harbaugh has the program on the right track, I'm more concerned with the narrative for "The Game" that hasn't changed and why. Why was there an inexplicable conservative approach on offense during the Ohio State game? Why was there a failure to open by attacking Ohio State's defensive weaknesses that had only been on display for the past 11 weeks? Why did Don Brown fail to anticipate/prepare for Ohio State exploiting the same offensive game plan that Indiana had run successfully the week prior... with half the team speed that Ohio State has? Etc., etc., etc..
It's great to be a winning program again with potential to win the B10 and make the playoffs. But, that doesn't happen without getting over "The Game" hump, so that's the next step in this program's evolution and it starts with how Coach Harbaugh and staff attack "The Game" without fear of losing it.
November 25th, 2018 at 3:52 PM ^
I think its been said over and over again: Michigan, very surprisingly, was dominated along the OL and DL. And that probably screwed up a lot of the plans that Michigan had.
November 25th, 2018 at 4:08 PM ^
The first few series on offense were not disrupted by domination of the O-line but by conservative, predictable play calling. In fact, I would say that the domination came after it became clear that Michigan was going with a conservative approach.
If Michigan had come out attacking downfield, stayed "off-script", or as I stated, looking to exploit the weaknesses in Ohio State's defense like Maryland, Nebraska, Purdue, etc., had, then maybe Ohio State is never in a position defensively to figure they could just tee-off on Michigan's offense. We'll never know but I'd guess the percentages were probably pretty low that a conservative approach on offense was going to work against Ohio State's defense.
November 26th, 2018 at 12:04 AM ^
Didn't Patterson get sacked on the 2nd play of the game?
November 26th, 2018 at 1:36 AM ^
Yep, then went the next two series without a sack while attempting 8 passes in total I believe. I don't consider 1 sack over three series as "domination".
Regarding the sack in the first series, it came on a 2nd and 2 after Higdon had rushed for 8 yards on first down. Because they came out running and were successful in getting "ahead of the sticks", that's one time I wish they had stuck to the script, brought in Mason and powered for the 2 yards, especially because of field position.
November 25th, 2018 at 3:43 PM ^
I know people are salty, and some will pooh-pooh this, but I'm not sure we can go semipro like Bama or OSU. Not only can they offer their players greater luxuries, but they just don't have to do much school. Studying football all day long is the advantage the pros have, and these guys are closer to that ideal than ours are.
Now, I know that Harbaugh's style of O play is under scrutiny, legitimately (I'm with those who think that something promising is in the making with Warriner's spread concepts and Harbaugh's own style). But we didn't have the talent on the field yesterday that OSU did, and may have a hard time equaling consistently.
This may not be our ceiling, but that ceiling may in fact be lower than those top four, five teams.
November 25th, 2018 at 3:58 PM ^
If you don't have the talent then you have to out-scheme them, which is what Maryland and Purdue did. We clearly thought we could just run right at them and got a healthy dose of reality.
November 25th, 2018 at 4:10 PM ^
It's probably a lot easier to outscheme an unmotivated opponent that is looking past you.
We get their best effort and that's tough when they have four top 5 recruiting classes in the pipeline.
November 25th, 2018 at 8:53 PM ^
This is a tough concept for people to wrap their head around. These games do not occur in a vacuum. The transitive property does not work in sports. Motivation plays a major role in sports--especially when dealing with college aged kids. OSU players, coaches, and fans do not spend every waking moment (and most of their sleeping moments) worried about whether they are going to beat Maryland or Purdue.
November 25th, 2018 at 3:49 PM ^
That's great, just don't get embarrassed and humiliated against your rival in an epic beat down. No shame in losing a hard fought game, just don't get pimp slapped on national TV.
November 25th, 2018 at 3:50 PM ^
I think the question is the trajectory. Harbaugh did a great job of changing the culture, bringing in good talent, saving 2015 by bringing in Rudock, beating all of the teams that we are supposed to beat etc. Harbaugh has given no indication that he will either bring in top shelf offensive staff, recruit at a CFP level, or beat truly excellent teams. Do you think we have a really good chance at going 10-3 again? Yep. Does anyone really think we might go 13-1 or 15-0 as presently? No, of course not.
Then I guess the next question, is going 10-3 or perhaps even 11-2 regularly good enough for people to be satisfied even if doesn't come with any championships? Opinions will vary.
November 25th, 2018 at 3:56 PM ^
I mean, yeah we have a legit chance of going 13-1 next year. If the Shea rumors are true, Michigan likely returns everyone on offense save JBB.
The defense will likely be good as well and I assume adjustments will be made to handle what we saw the last couple weeks, in the same vein as how Don Brown was brought in in 2016 or Ed Warinner was brought in last year.
November 25th, 2018 at 4:10 PM ^
So @Wisconsin, @PSU, Iowa, MSU, Notre Dame, OSU, @Indiana, and a B1G CG and we're going 7-1 or 8-0 in those games? It's always possible sure, but highly unlikely.
November 25th, 2018 at 4:27 PM ^
I'd much prefer Penn State and Wisconsin away as opposed to OSU and ND away. I don't think either team will be great next year.
November 25th, 2018 at 5:19 PM ^
If Haskins come back, and assuming he continues to progress at the rate he has over the past year, I don't see any way we stay within 3TD's vs. OSU in 2019 with the current defense we play.
November 25th, 2018 at 5:31 PM ^
Perhaps not. But a quick glance at the schedule suggests we're a ten-eleven win squad again next year. Maybe we need to start doing more investigative work on OSU football! :)
November 25th, 2018 at 4:00 PM ^
That's the key - figuring out to beat OSU. Until that occurs UM has hit their ceiling - 10 or 11 wins with not much to show for it. The East division goes through Urban Meyer and Ohio St. Yesterday didn't give me much confidence that UM will be raising their ceiling anytime soon.
November 25th, 2018 at 4:15 PM ^
Exactly this. How good is good enough? It's all about expectations.
November 25th, 2018 at 5:20 PM ^
For me, I want Michigan going into the Ohio State game with a chance at more. That's the baseline.
While yesterday was disappointing, it was still a good season. I think we've hit the point where the above will be the baseline.
November 25th, 2018 at 3:57 PM ^
We're at least back to the good Carr years. Now the question is, does Harbaugh want to do enough to really compete with the best of the best or not?
November 25th, 2018 at 4:03 PM ^
Nah, probably not. Dude's definitely satisfied.
November 26th, 2018 at 9:47 AM ^
Hey if 10-2 was good enough for Lloyd, it's good enough for Harbaugh
November 25th, 2018 at 3:57 PM ^
Thanks for putting this in perspective, its tough to lose but we didn't just go to the wire with Rutgers did we?
November 25th, 2018 at 5:16 PM ^
Conversely, MSU didn't have 62 points (which could have easily been 70+) hung on them by OSU when they played.
If saying "Boy, at least we were better against Rutgers than MSU was" is the measuring stick of success we're going to use, it's going to be a cold day in hell before we see a title winning season.
November 25th, 2018 at 4:51 PM ^
Just stop the cherry picking for Christ's sake.
Every season UM plays Rutgers, Maryland, Indiana, at least one of the west division's Purdue, Nebraska, Minnesota, Illinois quartet of crap, and 2 non com cream puffs. That's 6 wins that should be in the bag every season.
So were supposed to turn handstands that Harbaugh has been able to grind out a 4-3 record against in the other games that are against what can be called quality opponents? Especially when those 10 win seasons have produced exactly ZERO B10 titles and ZERO wins over Ohio State?
The B10 has been top heavy for years and, this year at least, even the some of the heavy hitters of the conference were complete garbage. If UM played the schedule of any of those other non B10 teams in your list, there's no way the get to 10 wins.
November 25th, 2018 at 5:21 PM ^
See you next Tuesday, you miserable troll.
November 25th, 2018 at 5:29 PM ^
Wrong. Just an alumni who's finally had enough of this "Let's look on the bright side" bullshit that we've been hearing about for the last 15 years. Especially where we had our best chance in to finally beat Ohio State and play for the B10 title and got throttled in record breaking fashion.
November 25th, 2018 at 6:10 PM ^
You joined yesterday just to pile on. You're definitely nothing more than a troll. I'm definitely right.
November 25th, 2018 at 5:31 PM ^
Better than not grinding out that 4-3 record, right?
November 25th, 2018 at 6:30 PM ^
Not saying we shouldn't be disappointed, all I'm saying is only a few teams a year win 10 or 11 games Harbaugh has done it 3 out of 4 and we have had things not go our way like the dropped punt against MSU, the refs against OSU 2 years ago and we have shot ourselves in the foot a few times but Bo lost to Purdue and Minnesota and MSU. Harbaugh is the right guy and if not him then who? We need to make changes but not at the top
November 26th, 2018 at 3:00 AM ^
If that's the case that there are 6 gimme games, someone may want to let Urban know he doesn't have to worry about Purdue Iowa Indiana Maryland. Again while disappointed this is one game unfortunately it was our biggest game but does that mean that Purdue a team that wasn't Bowl eligible until this weekend is better than Ohio State, on that night they were.
Sports is entertainment if all that matters to you is the final couple games of a season then don't watch the season. Just wait until the end of the season to turn your TV on ,did this team not entertain you all season long, did this defense not entertain you all season long.
Someone posted a stat on here the other day that also put it into perspective Harbaugh's teams since he's been here have been in the top 10 for over 50% of the weeks
November 25th, 2018 at 6:39 PM ^
November 25th, 2018 at 6:42 PM ^
It feels that way
November 25th, 2018 at 7:41 PM ^
November 25th, 2018 at 8:38 PM ^
Fuck John O'Neill.
November 25th, 2018 at 10:46 PM ^
Harbaugh has rebuilt the program. The strong overall record, very solid recruiting, and higher expectations are proof of the turnaround. He hasn’t turned it into an elite program and yesterday was awful, but UM is back to solid top 10 status. The key issues are narrowing to a manageable number.
Here is the biggest reason to stay the course: Harbaugh is completely unsatisfied with a 10-2 season that includes a loss to OSU. He will challenge every facet of the program to get better and grind away to get over the hump.
November 26th, 2018 at 7:12 AM ^
Thanks for posting this - I meant to look this up myself - I knew the list of programs with 10+ wins 3 of the last 4 years couldn't be too long
November 26th, 2018 at 9:20 AM ^
It's definitely nothing to scoff at, and considering where Michigan was before Harbaugh got here, its impressive. But we may be at this program's ceiling right now, given that OSU is just a dominant force in college football with Meyer at the helm. He's one of the best that's ever coached the game. Period. That's not to say the ceiling can't go higher one day. But right now, I think this is our ceiling.
I had a really bad feeling beforehand that we'd lose this game. Not as badly as we did, of course, but that we'd lose. After what I saw on Saturday, I feel like until Meyer retires (which could be a while, because I think this game just gave him a new lease on life for his OSU tenure), heartbreak is just what we need to expect in this game. I'm not trying to be a Debbie Downer. I honestly just think I'm being realistic.
This was Michigan's best team in a long, long time, and there was probably never going to be a more vulnerable Meyer-coached OSU team to take on. And we watched this team get taken to the woodshed and beaten as badly as I've ever seen OSU beat us. Maybe even worse than anything I saw Tressel do to RichRod teams. That was OSU's best game, and even if we played our best game, I'd have a hard time envisioning us winning it.
My point is that I think this kind of season is the most we can expect for the foreseeable future. We're not getting to Indianapolis or the playoffs without beating OSU. And as long as Meyer is there, I think either of those goals are somewhere between an uphill battle and a total pipedream. Neg away if you will, I wouldn't blame you. But you can't deny what Meyer has done in rivalry games over the course of his tenure. You probably wouldn't need more than five fingers to count how many times Meyer has lost to Michigan, Georgia, or FSU.
November 26th, 2018 at 9:49 AM ^
Thank you for posting this. Pushing back against some of the overzealous reaction stuff is important and necessary.