Greetings and welcome to SB Nation Reacts, an NCAA fan survey. We pose questions to the nation’s most engaged Michigan Wolverines supporters as well as fans across throughout the year. To take part in the weekly email surveys, register here.
The Michigan Wolverines are ranked #1 in the nation for the first time since 1997 after defeating the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Big Ten Championship. The Wolverines’ final National Championship triumph under head coach Lloyd Carr occurred in that same year.
Michigan will now undoubtedly play in the College Football Playoffs, beginning with a first-round matchup against the Alabama Crimson Tide. After losing to Texas earlier in the season, Alabama is on an 11-game winning streak and is coming off of a huge victory against Georgia to secure a berth in the playoffs.
In the Rose Bowl, Michigan is now favoured by 1.5 points according to DraftKings SportsBook, but Alabama’s history and skill set may unnerve some supporters. Losing back-to-back games in the College Football Playoffs’ opening round also doesn’t help.
How certain are you that Michigan will go to the National Championship and defeat Alabama?
Assuming the Wolverines make it to the finals and win everything. Jim Harbaugh would go on to have a career record of 89–25, win three consecutive Big Ten titles in nine seasons, and win a national championship during what was maybe the most difficult period in postseason history.
Carr is the sole other coach in the contemporary era to have won a National Championship. In addition, he had a 122-40 career record at Michigan, going 81-23 versus conference opponents, and he won or shared five Big Ten titles.
Then, of course, is the legendary Bo Schembechler who coached at Michigan for 21 seasons and won 194 games to just 48 losses in Ann Arbor. He led the Wolverines to 13 Big Ten championships, sharing eight of them in that time frame.
It’s safe to say these three are the greatest coaches in Michigan history, but where would Harbaugh rank among them if he wins it all this season?
