Dan Orlovsky: Michigan should fire Jim Harbaugh if expectation is to beat Ohio State

College football: Michigan vs. Ohio State - November 30, 2019

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh yells at referees in the first quarter of their Big Ten game against Ohio State at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor, on Saturday, November 30, 2019. (Mike Mulholland | MLive.com)Mike Mulholland | MLive.com

Jim Harbaugh’s future at Michigan should depend on the university’s expectations of the football program, according to ESPN analyst Dan Orlovsky.

The former Detroit Lions quarterback appeared on ESPN's morning program, "Get Up," on Monday, saying Harbaugh should be fired if Michigan expects him to compete against the nation's top programs.

The Wolverines (9-3) are coming off a 56-27 loss to Ohio State on Saturday, dropping their record to 0-5 against the Buckeyes under Harbaugh, including three losses by more than 20 points.

"If the expectation is to be a really good top-15 program and win 10 games a year, then absolutely don't get rid of Jim Harbaugh, because he has done that," Orlovsky said. "But if the expectation is to win national championships and beat your No. 1 rival, then what are we talking about? If you are going to try and say we are going to be the Clemson's and the Ohio State's, LSU's and Alabama's, there is not proof over the past five years that you can do that with Jim Harbaugh.

"Now if you don't want to be that, then don't say that is your expectation."

Harbaugh has three 10-win seasons at Michigan and could make it four with a victory in this year's bowl game. Overall, he has a 47-17 record with the Wolverines. But in five losses against the Buckeyes, Michigan is allowing 44.2 points per game compared to just 15.4 per game against other opponents.

Orlovsky also pointed to the lack of high draft picks on offense under Harbaugh. Michigan hasn’t had a quarterback, receiver, running back or tight end selected in the first two rounds since receiver Devin Funchess was drafted 41st overall in 2012.

"You are not developing offensive talent, which is where the game is right now," Orlovsky said. "You are not beating Ohio State and you are not in the national championship conversation."

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On Tuesday's airing of Get Up, Mike Greenberg said the expectations at Michigan are unreasonable.

"Jim Harbaugh is being belittled, criticized and diminished because of a false perception about the program that he leads," Greenberg said. "Which is to say the University of Michigan is not — and has not — for a very long time been among the truly elite football programs in America.

"That was true before Harbaugh arrived and it is true today. And it probably will be true long after he leaves."

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Greenberg noted the Wolverines have not won an outright national championship since 1948 and haven't won a Big Ten title since 2004. They also have lost to OSU in 10 of the previous 11 meetings before Harbaugh arrived in Ann Arbor.

“Those are facts,” he said. “And Jim Harbaugh has almost nothing to do with them.”

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