Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh previews game against Ohio State
ANN ARBOR, Mich. ( WCMH ) — First, Michigan dropped in the polls coming off a win. Next, the newly third-ranked Wolverines get to play No. 2 Ohio State.
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh held his weekly news conference on Monday.
On Saturday, Michigan held off Maryland in a 31-24 win . On Sunday, the Wolverines fell from No. 2 to No. 3 in the AP and coaches polls, bringing their ranking in line with where they’ve been in the College Football Playoff rankings .
Harbaugh, who is suspended for the remainder of the regular season, was not in College Park, Md. for the team’s 1,000th win in program history.
“I watched the game at my brother’s house, great to watch it with him,” Harbaugh said of 49ers coach John Harbaugh. “What I saw was a great and glorious win. We accomplished what we went there to do and got the mission done.”
This week, Michigan (11-0) has its regular season-ending game at home against the Buckeyes (11-0), who routed Minnesota 37-3 . The winner of the game will take the Big Ten East division and advance to the conference championship game on Dec. 2 in Indianapolis. The loser will watch from home and see if its regular-season performance was good enough for one of the four playoff spots.
“We are in a position to be in position. That’s what we know,” Harbaugh said. “(We’re) 11-0, they’re 11-0. Everything, all focus and preparation is on this game – as it should be.”
Under a Big Ten penalty , Harbaugh is allowed to coach the team during the week but cannot be with it on gamedays. Michigan is under investigation for scouting future opponents in person, a violation of NCAA rules. Offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore has been serving as acting coach.
“I think back over the past five, six weeks, especially, I mean it’s just been like a high-pitched siren, like a deafening, ear-piercing noise, and after a while you start to tolerate it. And before you know it, you just block it out,” Harbaugh said. “I’m just so proud of our team, despite that noise, our locker room is one piece.”
“We’re battle tested and it’s all about Ohio. The week is all about Ohio,” he said.
Ohio State coach Ryan Day is scheduled to speak at noon on Tuesday.
