Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan Wolverines are coming off of their best season in over 15 years, capping the regular season off with a 42-3 Big Ten Championship Game win over Iowa.
The Wolverines also defeated Ohio State and Ryan Day at home by a score of 42-27, leading many to speculate as to whether or not Harbaugh’s program had finally turned the corner, back toward national prominence.
Michigan was knocked off of its high horse in the college football playoffs against Georgia, however, losing to Kirby Smart’s Bulldogs by a final score of 34-11, in a game that wasn’t nearly that close.
Now, Harbaugh and Day have been pitted against each other yet again, this time in 247Sports.com’s latest ranking of the top college coaches in America — and it’s a list most Buckeye fans will have a hard time agreeing with.
Harbaugh Ranks 6th Among Top Ten CFB Coaches, Ryan Day Comes in at #8
The list, shared on the 247Sports.com Twitter account, is as follows:
- Nick Saban, Alabama
- Kirby Smart, Georgia
- Dabo Swinney, Clemson
- Lincoln Riley, USC
- Jimbo Fisher, Texas A&M
- Jim Harbaugh, Michigan
- Brian Kelly, LSU
- Ryan Day, Ohio State
- Luke Fickell, Cincinnati
- Dave Aranda, Baylor
At first glance, this list seems to make a lot sense, especially considering the results of last season.
But is 247Sports.com placing too much emphasis on one Harbaugh win over his arch-rivals and Coach Day?
After all, Day is 34-4 overall with the Buckeyes, including a 23-game win streak in Big Ten play and a 13-4 record against teams ranked in the Top 25, although he is now just 1-1 vs. Harbaugh.
Meanwhile, Harbaugh is 44-19 at Michigan, a considerably lower winning percentage, and has five straight bowl losses to his name.
Perhaps 247Sports.com simply believes that Harbaugh is more of a proven coach based on his records with Michigan, Stanford, and the San Francisco 49ers combined, but it’s hard to argue against Day’s incredible success early in his career.
The comments section has been heated, with Michigan, Ohio State, and even Michigan State and Clemson fans and supporters chiming in over the final list.
Dabo, Harbaugh, Riley and Kelly should not be ahead of Day.
— Andrew T. ❌antell (@HappyHour1147) February 11, 2022
Imagine that you have beaten Ohio state 1 time in your 7 years and so people think you are a good coach. Also have a losing record to your in state rival. Are we saying he’s doing good at a shitty school like Fickell or that expectations are low? What’s the justification?
— Buckeye Insider (@InsiderBuckeye) February 12, 2022
Wow, Mel Tucker not being on this list is a travesty. Took a dying, dumpster fire program from two wins to 11 in two seasons. Brian Kelly should not be on here. Harbaugh, who has been mediocre 6/7 years, should not be on here. Baylor had one good year. This list is fucked
— ????? ????? (@BleedinGreen98) February 11, 2022
https://twitter.com/SCH1258/status/1492250607578669057
How is Kirby Smart (1 Natty, 1 runner up ) ahead of Dabo (2 Nattys,2 runner ups) Lincoln Riley( 0 Nattys) ahead of Jimbo Fisher (1 Natty). And Harbaugh (1 playoff appearance) ahead of Kelly (2 playoffs, 1 BCS runner up)? Is this based on 2022 expectations
— tim anderson (@tim_shothouse11) February 12, 2022
Harbaugh’s Wolverines are set to tangle with Day’s Buckeyes on November 22 of this year in Columbus, when their score can be decided on the field one more time.
