Urban Meyer impressed over Jim Harbaugh, Michigan turnaround

Urban Meyer won his fair share of games over Jim Harbaugh and Michigan when he was at Ohio State. However, the former coach couldn’t help but praise Harbaugh, particularly after the last two years.

Harbuagh and Michigan defeated Ohio State two years in a row and won the Big Ten, making the College Football Playoff along the way. Now, Michigan is on the shortlist of national title contenders this fall.

Meyer said Harbaugh has some tough teams and you better be ready.

“Well, I know his teams very well, and they’re tough,” Meyer said on The Herd. “You know, he grew up in a tough family, played for a tough coach. And you watch, the reason they beat Ohio State the last two years is they won the line of scrimmage. That game, the history of that game, whoever wins the line of scrimmage wins. So you remember about three years ago, his job was on the line? I think they redid his contract. They were really struggling and he’s done a great job. He’s got a really good football team. 

“He’s got a quarterback coming back, one of the few teams with the returning quarterback. So when I think of a Jim Harbaugh team, I think about you better line up and run the football and stop the run because that’s coming at you.”

Meyer never lost to Harbaugh while he was at Ohio State, despite some close calls. Michigan really turned it around recently.

It seems like the Wolverines run the Big Ten at this point and are the favorites to win a third straight conference title.

Ohio State is extremely talented though and Michigan might only have the edge in the quarterback department.

That quarterback Meyer mentioned under Harbaugh? JJ McCarthy? Yeah he’s pretty good and Harbaugh has the best quarterback he’s had at Michigan.

Harbaugh was asked what McCarthy had to do, or what he’s done, for improvement going into the 2023 season.

“Just do JJ,” Harbaugh said on Big Ten Network. “Anytime, just do him. It’s working. Anytime there’s anything that you coach him on, on any coaching point, he automatically works at it and gets better at it. And there’s no big head for him. I just could not ever predict him falling into that deep, dark, lonely trap. So he’s in a great place right now. best he’s ever been. 

“When you see him … he got his man year. You know, el naturale. 10 more pounds. The baby fat is gone. He looks great. He’s in a great place. Throwing the ball, moving around better than ever.”

Since Meyer is on the television front, he’ll watch Harbaugh from the desk. But there’s no question the latter is in the best streak of his career.