Jim Harbaugh’s Seat Is Heating Up After Losing To Michigan State

Michigan football head coach Jim Harbaugh signed a seven-year, $52 million contract in 2014 and he continues to lose big games. The Wolverines squared-off with their in-state rival Spartans on Saturday and lost 27-24. It was the 19th loss of the Harbaugh era and the team was met with boos as it exited the field in Ann Arbor. Most of them were directed toward the head coach.

Since Harbaugh took over six years ago, the Wolverines have not reached the Big 10 title game, have not lost less than three games in a season, do not have a win over Ohio State and won only one of its five bowl game appearances. The record speaks for itself but what happened on Saturday may have been the breaking point. No. 13 Michigan was 21.5 point favorites against Michigan State, who lost to Rutgers, and set the internet on fire with the loss.

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With that being said, the Spartans played their guts out. Head coach Mel Tucker is in his first season in East Lansing and his team played physical, confident and disciplined. While the game was back-and-forth most of the afternoon, it was the Michigan State receivers who made the difference.

Even with the impressive performance from the passing attack on the other side of the ball, the expectation with Harbaugh’s hire was that the Wolverines would not lose games to inferior opponents. Michigan committed 10 penalties for 86 yards and converted only seven of its 17 third-down attempts. It was a poor showing from the multi-million dollar man and his seat is starting to catch fire. Harbaugh’s contract is set to expire three days after the last game of the 2021 season and it wouldn’t come as a surprise if the losing continued and the athletic department chooses to part ways after this season.

Michigan may be better off paying Harbaugh $7 million not to coach, but only time will tell.