Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh is gone to the NFL.
He took the Los Angeles Chargers job Wednesday night, leaving the Michigan program after a legendary tenure.
Harbaugh had been flirting with the NFL for years. Two years ago it was the Vikings, last year it was the Broncos. Now it’s the Chargers that finally get him to jump.
He departs Michigan with an 89-25 record, three straight Big Ten titles, three straight College Football Playoff appearances and a national championship.
This is obviously a Wisconsin football site. So we came together to rank Wisconsin’s best moments against Michigan during the Jim Harbaugh era. Believe it or not, there were plenty:
FUMBLE!@BadgerFootball gets a big takeaway in the red zone to stop Michigan in their tracks. pic.twitter.com/zurSnYxRdz
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 21, 2019
The offensive highlights from that afternoon steal the spotlight. But the defense was terrific, forcing four Michigan turnovers.
samechols: Fumble! Fox College Football: Michigan at Wisconsin https://t.co/sfTIDN8xbY pic.twitter.com/Hwi8KUkmbQ
— FanSportsClips (@FanSportsClips) November 18, 2017
The old Michigan-Wisconsin battles were 17-14 type football games in which every point was crucial. There are other plays from this game to come, but this one is often referenced.
Wisconsin played Joe Milton once upon a time…#neverforget pic.twitter.com/M3tYOwLDPn
— Ben Kenney (@benzkenney) December 31, 2022
Leo Chenal didn’t have to move an inch to catch this football. It ignited what became a 49-11 beat down — also the Badgers’ last win over the Wolverines.
It’s Michigan Week.
The last time @BadgerFootball hosted the Wolverines, in 2017, Nick Nelson (@Nickcityy) got things started. pic.twitter.com/uNP7q4wW0R
— Wisconsin On BTN (@WisconsinOnBTN) September 16, 2019
Nobody in the building knew what the heck was going on until Nelson broke free and ran toward the end zone. This and the Pryor rushing touchdown were the big plays from this memorable win.
Jonathan Taylor is a big play waiting to happen. Already up to 143 rushing yards an 2 TDs against Michigan. pic.twitter.com/ljoFMWzF27
— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) September 21, 2019
Giving Jonathan Taylor green grass is not the best strategy. This run came right after the aforementioned fumble, which ignited a blowout win and one of the best days of Badger fandom in the last decade.
— Ben Kenney (@benzkenney) January 25, 2024
This is my favorite Wisconsin-Michigan moment by a landslide. Jack Coan somehow looks like Lamar Jackson while breaking open a win and showing the conference that this Badger team was legit.
Would we all like a do-over of the second half of the 2019 Big Ten title game? Of course. But this moment had me thinking it could be the year.