Jim Harbaugh Among The Elite In Latest PFF Rankings

After a rocky stretch during his coaching career in Ann Arbor, It's been an incredible turnaround for Jim Harbaugh at Michigan.

It didn't happen as quickly or as easily as most expected when he took over the head coaching job at Michigan, but Jim Harbaugh has finally turned the Michigan Wolverines into a legitimate national championship contender. 

Entering his ninth season in Ann Arbor, Harbaugh is now considered to be the top coach in the Big Ten Conference, and he's near the top of the totem pole nationally. In fact, PFF College recently placed Harbaugh at the No. 3 spot overall - just behind Nick Saban (No. 1) and Kirby Smart (No. 2). 

Top 10 HCs in College Football, via @Chad_Maxwick pic.twitter.com/hbZSwirYvb

— PFF College (@PFF_College) April 7, 2023

In total, four coaches from the Big Ten conference were listed among the top ten, including Jim Harbaugh at Michigan (No. 3), Ryan Day at Ohio State (No. 7), Luke Fickell at Wisconsin (No. 9), and James Franklin at Penn State (No. 10).  

Here's a quick look at Jim Harbaugh's first six seasons compared to his last two seasons at Michigan. 

2015-20

• Overall record: 49-22
• Winning PCT: 69%
• Record vs OSU: 0-5
• Record vs MSU: 3-3
• Bowl record: 1-4
• B10 Championships: 0
• CFP appearances: 0
• National Championships: 0

2021-22

• Overall record: 25-3
• Winning PCT: 89%
• Record vs OSU: 2-0
• Record vs MSU: 1-1
• Bowl record: 0-2
• B10 Championships: 2
• CFP appearances: 2
• National Championships: 0

Based on the numbers above, there are plenty of reasons for Michigan fans to be excited about the current state of the Michigan Football program. With back-to-back wins over Ohio State and two consecutive Big Ten Championships, it's clear that the road to the conference championship and beyond now runs through Ann Arbor. 

That being said, there are still some numbers that remain concerning for Michigan fans - including a 4-4 record vs Michigan State and an overall record of 1-6 in Bowl games. The bar in Ann Arbor has been raised significantly over the last two seasons, and Michigan needs to take a step forward in 2023 for the season to be considered a success. At this point, a step forward means playing for (and winning) a national championship - the last box that Harbaugh needs to check in order to complete his restoration of the Michigan Football program.