Jim Harbaugh stresses preparation over respect for Ohio State coaches

Jim Harbaugh didn’t want to talk about respect for Ohio State coaches ahead of The Game. Instead, he focused on Michigan’s preparation when asked about the mutual respect between both sides.

Yes, it’s a rivalry, but the opposing sides have to respect each other on some level, right? Well, if Harbaugh does respect Ryan Day, Ohio State and the rest of the Buckeyes’ brass, he certainly didn’t talk about it.

Harbaugh won’t be on the sidelines for the third straight game, but he’ll be there to prepare his team.

“It’s all about our preparation for Ohio,” Harbaugh said. “You know, the days, the minutes, the hours, everything leading up to this game. You know, that’s where our focus is. Preparing ourselves, planning, going to practice and then executing. So I mean, anything else is irrelevant when you get into this kind of big game week.”

Harbaugh’s future at Michigan could be at stake. But despite having to finish his suspension this weekend, the Wolverines head coach had just one thing on his mind: Ohio State.

“All the focus is on Ohio State,” Harbaugh said. “This is where we’re at. That’s the focus. That’s part of the life lesson, to focus on the task in front of you. When you got a task in front of you, it’s a big task, you got to use every day, every hour, every minute. Plan, practice, get yourself right. Get yourself in position to go out there and play to the best of your ability.”

But with Michigan’s toughest test yet, a potential loss to the Buckeyes could make things very interesting, per ESPN’s Thamel.

“I think the most interesting part of the stakes of this game, that makes it so unique amid this historic rivalry, is that the real stakes are it could send Jim Harbaugh back to the sideline,” Thamel said on Monday Blitz. “Look, obviously, if Michigan wins this game, it plays in the Big Ten title game against Iowa and then would go on to the third consecutive College Football Playoff appearance. If Ohio State wins in Ann Arbor, it would put Jim Harbaugh’s coaching career at a crossroads.” 

What kind of crossroads? Well, Thamel described the potential punishment in 2024 that could have ripple effects.

“It’s not outlandish to say that he could be facing a suspension for the first half of next season from the games,” Thamel said. “Does he want to do that? He’s flirted with the NFL the last two years. Does Michigan want to do that? They’ve already lost their head coach for 6 of the 12 games this year. So it’s going to be a really interesting crossroads that they would stare at if that clock hits zero and Ohio State is ahead on the scoreboard.”