This passage echoes the opening of Marvel’s “What If…?” series on Disney+, serving as the inspiration for an offseason series delving into alternate scenarios in college football and in Ann Arbor during 2023.
Similar to the Avengers defeating Thanos and bringing back half the universe, Michigan emerged triumphant over college football last season.
Throughout this series, we’ll venture into alternate realities where outcomes diverged. Sometimes, championship results remain intact but through different paths, while other scenarios paint a darker picture. Maize n Brew will be your guide through these hypothetical realms, prompting the question: What if…?
What if… Jim Harbaugh became head coach at Michigan after Lloyd Carr?
Institutions fall when leadership struggles. Your timeline witnessed that when Lloyd Carr retired in 2007. It opened the doors to nearly a decade of insignificant football in Ann Arbor, a depleted football program and fanbase, and the need for monumental changes.
Jim Harbaugh succeeded in restoring the greatness at Michigan after nine seasons, winning the 2023 National Championship. It took years to re-establish the hard-nosed toughness the Wolverines once possessed, and it led them to being champions once again.
But imagine a scenario where there was no pressing need to completely rebuild the program. Let’s dive into a timeline where a promising head coach with strong ties to the Michigan Wolverines arrived in Ann Arbor much earlier than in your reality.
It’s the early months of 2007, and following the 2006 season, Lloyd Carr’s Wolverines suffered defeats in their two most crucial games. Particularly disheartening was their loss to No. 1 Ohio State in Columbus during “The Game.” This disappointment was compounded by a defeat in the Rose Bowl to No. 8 USC, where the offense struggled to score, managing just three points in the first three quarters. The season’s conclusion left the Wolverines and their fans crestfallen, with mounting pressure on the administration to act swiftly for change.
In this universe, Michigan and Lloyd Carr agreed to mutually part ways, as Carr retired in early 2007 instead of after the fall season of the same year.
This opened the door for a coaching search where Michigan still had some of the top players remaining on their roster, specifically on the offensive side. A core of Chad Henne, Mike Hart, Mario Manningham and Jake Long made Ann Arbor one of the top coaching jobs on the market.
While there were plenty of options available, Michigan had its eyes set on a former player who had been dominating the Division II level. Jim Harbaugh had taken the University of San Diego to consecutive 11-1 records and led Division II football in points per game, passing yards per game, total yards per game and first downs per game. The Toreros’ starting quarterback, Josh Johnson, threw for 67 touchdowns and 6,201 yards in the final two years under Harbaugh. Michigan was intrigued by what that could mean for Henne and top recruit Ryan Mallett.
The two sides agreed to a deal that shocked many pundits across college football. A Division II coach taking over a team with championship aspirations was a surprising move, but Michigan liked bringing an alum back to Ann Arbor.
The 2007 season opened against Appalachian State, a team that beat the No. 5 ranked Wolverines in your timeline for what would be the ugliest loss in Michigan history. But with Harbaugh and a new swagger to the Wolverines’ step, they trounced the Mountaineers to open the season for Harbaugh’s first win in the Big House.
However, the remainder of the season still wasn’t completely up to snuff. The Wolverines lost a close one to Oregon the next week and finished with three losses in Harbaugh’s first season as a Division I head coach. Despite this, optimism was still high from the perspective of the administration.
One of the most important components of the coaching change was Harbaugh wanted to continue the tough-nosed approach to football. There was never a full philosophical change on the offensive end that saw the spread offense and quarterback runs; Michigan football remained Michigan football under Harbaugh.
While Michigan still lost Mallett to a transfer, the Wolverines plucked Andrew Luck, a top-50 recruit in the 2008 class, out of the jaws of Texas. He’d be the starter for the Wolverines as a true freshman. Brandon Graham’s emergence at defensive end in 2007 also drew in success on both sides of the ball moving forward. The team won eight games in a reloading season in 2008, then won nine games in 2009, and 10 games in 2010.
In this alternate reality, Michigan maintained its recruiting dominance over Mark Dantonio and Michigan State without experiencing the significant decline seen in your universe. Under Harbaugh’s leadership, the Wolverines consistently performed well against their in-state rival. Although they faced challenges against the Buckeyes, there was never a stretch lasting more than three years where Michigan failed to secure a victory against their formidable opponent.
The culmination of this success occurred in 2011, during Luck’s final season in Ann Arbor. Luck showcased his talents by throwing for over 3,500 yards and recording an impressive 35 touchdowns to just eight interceptions for the Wolverines. Similar to your world, Luck was a top prospect for the NFL Draft. However, in this alternate reality, Luck, competing at a larger school, clinched the Heisman Trophy over Robert Griffin III from Baylor.
Assisted by 1,000-yard rusher Fitzgerald Toussaint, the Michigan offense emerged as one of college football’s most formidable units, complemented by a defense that commanded attention for its toughness, physicality, and strategic blitzes. Victories against Notre Dame, Michigan State, Nebraska, and Ohio State bolstered the Wolverines’ resume, positioning them favorably in the BCS rankings for a shot at the National Championship over the Alabama Crimson Tide, who had only suffered one defeat.
The stage was set for a showdown between No. 1 LSU and No. 2 Michigan for the national title. An early fumble by LSU on the opening drive set a tone of uncertainty, allowing Michigan to capitalize. In a defensive struggle, Michigan relied on the precision of kicker Brendan Gibbons, who delivered four crucial field goals to secure the victory.
Under Luck’s leadership, Michigan’s offense operated efficiently, consistently putting points on the board and keeping the Wolverines ahead of LSU in the National Championship game. This victory, achieved in just his fourth year at the helm, solidified Harbaugh’s status as one of college football’s premier coaches early in his career.
Unlike in your timeline, where he ventured into the NFL with the San Francisco 49ers, Harbaugh’s focus remained firmly in Ann Arbor, intent on constructing a dynasty at Michigan. This commitment sparked a rivalry across conferences, pitting Michigan against traditional powerhouses like Ohio State, Clemson, and Alabama. Harbaugh’s clashes with Nick Saban of Alabama became legendary, evolving into one of college football’s greatest coaching rivalries, particularly as the College Football Playoff era commenced in 2014, leading to even more frequent showdowns between the two programs.
Michigan won multiple championships under Harbaugh, and their success continued even to the present day of where this timeline and yours meet. The Wolverines won the National Championship for the fourth time in the Harbaugh era in 2024, and the dynasty in Ann Arbor’s story is still being written.
