MAR. 2 -- It wasn’t long ago that Michigan fans received the news they had waited months for: Jim Harbaugh was heading back to the Midwest to coach the Wolverines. Many titled him as the savior of Michigan Football. The man who would restore the program to its national glory. The man who would lead the Wolverines into contention for the Big Ten every year, maybe even the College Football Playoff. However, as we approach 2018, things are not all sunshine and roses for the Wolverines coach. Instead, he finds himself embarking on a critical year that could end with his job in jeopardy.

     Fast forward ¾ of a year: one of the most dreaded Michigan Football plays in recent memory. “He has trouble with the snap!” A devastating 27-23 loss to in-state rivals, Michigan State University. Even with a clutch defensive stop late in the fourth quarter, the Wolverines could not put the game out of reach. A combination of conservative play-calling and offensive miscues set the scene for the play that Harbaugh is most remembered for to this day. With the loss to MSU, the Wolverines dropped to 5-2 on the year with a game against Ohio State still to come Their chances to win the Big Ten East were virtually none.

     Year 2. The Wolverines sprinted out to a 10-0 start, their best in years. Their run included wins at home against Penn State and the nationally ranked Wisconsin Badgers, and a win in East Lansing against the Spartans. November 12, 2016. Michigan was ranked second in the nation matching up against the Iowa Hawkeyes, a game that favored the Wolverines. However, hindered by a slow start and an injury to starting quarterback Wilton Speight, the team found themselves in a situation that was all too familiar. A first down would win the game. Instead, the Wolverines punted from inside their own 20 with a little over a minute left, setting up Iowa’s game-winning drive. The culprit, conservative play-calling once again. Michigan could salvage the season with a win at the Horseshoe against Ohio State. Once again, the offense failed to convert a third down late in the contest, which would have iced the game. The result, an overtime loss to rival Ohio State. Harbaugh let the taste of a Big Ten Championship Game bid slip right from his grasps. The Wolverines finished the season on a low note, suffering a heartbreaking late loss to Florida State in the Orange Bowl.

     Year 3. Nothing really clicked for the team this year. Speight suffered a season-ending injury against Purdue, and his backup, John O’Korn, struggled mightily in relief. This opened the door for redshirt freshman Brandon Peters, who also could not provide the stability that the Wolverines needed at the quarterback position. The team ended the season with an 8-5 record, suffering losses to MSU, OSU, Penn State, and Wisconsin.

     In his first three seasons as Michigan’s Head Coach, Harbaugh has posted a 1-2 record against MSU, and an 0-3 record against OSU, both games that Michigan fans expect to contend for each and every year. The Wolverines have not won their division in his 3 years either. While 2016 showed glimpses of greatness, the season was hindered by coaching decisions down the stretch. The fault could lie partially on the Michigan fan base for having such high standards and the expectation of immediate success. Year 4 could silence the growing discomfort amongst Michigan fans, but mediocrity (based on Michigan standards, of course) could have some calling for changes.