How Jim Harbaugh's NFL departure has already derailed Michigan's 2024 season

Michigan has started the 2024 season with a disappointing 1-1 record, and one analyst recently shared how he thinks former Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh is partially to blame.

"[Head coach] Sherrone Moore certainly deserves blame for what happened to Michigan [in Saturday's 31-12 loss to Texas]," On3.com's Andy Staples wrote. "But it’s also Jim Harbaugh’s fault."

Staples would go on to elaborate on his thinking.

"The extended dance between Harbaugh and the Michigan administration in December and January," he explained, "while Harbaugh chased NFL jobs, is the reason Michigan couldn’t reach into the transfer portal and pull out a better QB1 than the on-the-roster options [current Wolverines head coach Sherrone Moore] had to choose from this offseason."

According to Staples, Michigan was unable to recruit any of the top quarterbacks in the transfer pool this past December and January because they were forced to wait until after Harbaugh made a decision about his future with the school.

By the time he chose to leave for the NFL to become the new head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, the overall talent level of the quarterbacks left in the transfer portal had significantly decreased.

While the Wolverines were waiting on Harbaugh, some of the most notable signal-callers in the transfer portal landed with new schools. Kyle McCord left Ohio State for Syracuse, Riley Leonard transferred from Duke to Notre Dame. Taylen Green parted with Boise State for Arkansas.

Michigan is probably most disappointed in missing out on McCord, especially with his start to the season with Syracuse.

In McCord's first two games with the Orange this year, the former Buckeyes signal-caller has already thrown for 735 yards (367.5 per matchup) and eight touchdowns against just one interception. As Staples posits, McCord transferring from Ohio State to bitter rival Michigan would have been the "ultimate revenge tale."

But instead of landing someone like McCord in the transfer portal, Harbaugh's uncertain future forced the Wolverines to turn to two quarterbacks who were already on their roster to replace J.J. McCarthy for the 2024 season.

Senior Davis Warren, who joined Michigan in 2021, has started both games at quarterback for the Wolverines this year, with junior Alex Orji taking a few snaps under center as well. But neither have done much of anything in their time on the field so far this season.

In his two starts, Warren has completed 63.8% of his passes for just 322 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions. Orji has only completed one pass this season, though it did result in a Michigan touchdown.

So, while Harbaugh is currently smiling from ear to ear after helping lead the Chargers to a win in their first game of the 2024 NFL season this past Sunday, Michigan is still busy trying to figure out how to get things back on track with the mess he left behind.