Jim Harbaugh entered 2018 in danger of losing his widespread support within the Michigan fanbase if the offense continued to waste an elite defense.
After two 10-3 seasons to begin Harbaugh's tenure, the Wolverines slumped to 8-5 in 2017. And he oversaw one of the nation's most pitiful passing games, which ranked No. 109 in yards per attempt and had nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions.
Sure, he'd hand-picked a trio of touted quarterbacks, yet Michigan hadn't seen that recruiting talent translate to the field. Throw in a 1-5 record opposite rivals Michigan State and Ohio State, and unhappiness swirled around the program—which boasted a top-four defense in all three of those years.