Michigan
On December 30, 2014, Harbaugh was introduced by the University of Michigan as the school's new head football coach. His return to Michigan was the subject of a book, Endzone: The Rise, Fall, and Return of Michigan Football, by John U. Bacon.
On September 3, 2015, Harbaugh lost his first game as head coach of Michigan, a 24–17 road loss against Utah. On September 12, Michigan won 35–7 against Oregon State, giving Harbaugh his first win as Michigan's head coach. On September 26, Harbaugh led Michigan to a 31–0 victory over No. 22-ranked Brigham Young University, leading Michigan to move into #22 in the AP Poll. This was Michigan's first appearance in the AP Top 25 since 2013. On October 3, Harbaugh led the Wolverines to a 28–0 shutout win against the Maryland Terrapins, posting back to back shutouts for the first time since 2000. The following week, Michigan beat #13 Northwestern 38–0, making the Wolverines the first team with a pair of 30-point shutouts against ranked opponents since Notre Dame's 1966 championship team. He finished his first season as the Wolverines' head coach with a 10–3 record, with losses against Utah, Michigan State, and Ohio State, and a redeeming victory in the Citrus Bowl over No. 19 Florida, 41–7. After being tied, 7–7, in the first quarter, Michigan scored 34 unanswered points as they held Florida to just 28 yards in the second half.
Michigan was ranked 7th in the AP Poll to start the season. After defeating Hawaii in the opening game of the 2016 season, Michigan was ranked 5th in the AP Poll. It was the first time Michigan had been ranked in the top five since the start of the 2007 season. Michigan cruised through its non-conference slate before defeating #8 Wisconsin. This was Michigan's first win over a top ten ranked team since 2008. In week six, the Wolverines soundly defeated Rutgers 78–0, the third-largest margin of victory in program history and the largest margin since 1920. Three weeks later, Michigan defeated Michigan State on the road, its first victory in East Lansing since 2007. They then suffered their first loss of the season to Iowa, before beating Indiana for their 10th victory; Harbaugh is one of only two coaches in program history to win 10 games in each of his first two seasons as head coach, joining Fielding H. Yost (1901–02). The regular season finished with a highly anticipated matchup against #2 Ohio State, with a likely College Football Playoff bid on the line. In a game that went to two overtime periods, Ohio State defeated the Wolverines 30–27; Harbaugh said afterward he was "bitterly disappointed with the officiating", especially for a controversial 4th-and-1 call, and was reprimanded by the Big Ten with a $10,000 fine. Michigan finished the season in the Orange Bowl, where it lost 33–32 to #10 Florida State, after losing Heisman-finalist Jabrill Peppers before the game and losing two-time All-American Jake Butt early in the game. Michigan finished the season 10–3 and another third-place finish in their division.
Michigan finished the season in the Outback Bowl, losing 19–26 to South Carolina, becoming the only team in the Big Ten Conference to lose its bowl game in the 2017–2018 bowl season and giving them an 8–5 record on the year.
Michigan began the 2018 season ranked 14th in the AP Poll. They lost their first game of the season against No. 12 Notre Dame 17–24, but rebounded the next two weeks with a 49–3 win over Western Michigan University and a 45–20 win over SMU. Three weeks later, the 5–1 Wolverines faced the No. 15 Wisconsin Badgers in a Saturday night showdown. Michigan won the game 38–13, moving to No. 6 in the AP Poll. The next week, the Wolverines beat rival Michigan State 21–7, moving to 5th in the AP Poll. After a bye week, the Wolverines trampled Penn State 42–7, moving to 4th in both the AP poll and the College Football Playoff Rankings. They would stay at that ranking after a 31–20 win over Indiana that earned the Wolverines a share of the East Division title. Michigan lost at #10 Ohio State 62–39, denying Michigan a chance to play in the Big Ten Championship Game. Ohio State's 62 points set a record for points against Michigan in regulation. Harbaugh became the first Michigan coach to lose his first four starts against the Buckeyes. The Wolverines lost to the Florida Gators 41–15 in the Peach Bowl, finishing with another 10–3 season.
During Harbaugh's fifth season, the Wolverines lost to Wisconsin 35–14 and to Penn State 28–21, both on the road. Michigan won decisively against rivals Notre Dame 45–14 and Michigan State 44–10, but concluded the regular season with a loss to then #1-ranked Ohio State by a score of 56–27 to end the regular season. When asked about the gap between the two schools, his reply was testy: "I'll answer your questions, not your insults." The Wolverines finished the season in the Citrus Bowl, where they lost to Alabama, 35–16. Michigan finished the season 9–4 overall.
Michigan's 2020 season was significantly shortened due to the Big Ten Conference's policies regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. On November 14, Michigan hosted Wisconsin and Michigan suffered its largest halftime deficit at home since Michigan Stadium opened in 1927 (28–0), as well as its largest home loss (49–11) since 1935. On November 28, 2020, Michigan hosted Penn State and for the first time in Michigan football history, lost to a team that was 0–5 or worse. Michigan was winless at home during the 2020 season, marking the first time in program history that Michigan did not win any games at home.
On January 8, 2021, Michigan signed Harbaugh to a four-year contract extension through the 2025 season. Michigan, led by Harbaugh, finished the regular season 11–1. The Wolverines beat Western Michigan, Washington, Northern Illinois, Rutgers, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Northwestern, Indiana, No. 23 Penn State, and Maryland. Michigan's lone loss came in a top-10 matchup on the road at Michigan State. Following the loss, according to Harbaugh, the Big Ten acknowledged that there were errors made by the officials on multiple calls, including one that could have resulted in a Michigan touchdown. Michigan ended the regular season with a 42–27 victory over Ohio State, giving Harbaugh his first win over Ohio State and his second Big Ten East divisional title. Michigan advanced to the Big Ten Championship Game for the first time, where the Wolverines defeated Iowa in Indianapolis, 42–3, earning an Orange Bowl berth against Georgia in the College Football Playoff. Following the season he was named the Associated Press College Football Coach of the Year Award. By winning the award, Michigan became the first school to win both the AP coach of the year in men's basketball (Juwan Howard) and football since the football award was established in 1998.
In January 2022, reports emerged that Harbaugh would take the Las Vegas Raiders head coaching job if he was offered it. Although he never interviewed with the Raiders, Harbaugh did interview with the Minnesota Vikings in late January and was a lead candidate for a head coaching job. Reports emerged that Harbaugh was preparing to accept the Vikings head coaching position if he was offered it, but he ultimately did not receive an offer following his second interview with the team, and informed the University of Michigan that he would be returning to coach the Wolverines in the 2022 season.
The 2022 Wolverines began the season ranked sixth and eighth in the coaches' and AP polls, respectively. They climbed into the top five in both polls as they opened the season with a seven-game winning streak, including a 27–14 win at Iowa on October 1 – the program's first at Kinnick Stadium since 2005 – and a dominating 41–17 win over previously unbeaten Penn State on October 15.
The Wolverines continued their winning streak on October 29 by defeating Michigan State 29–7, to reclaim the Paul Bunyan Trophy. The team then defeated Rutgers 52–17, followed by a 34–3 win over Nebraska to reach 10–0 – the program's best start to a season in Harbaugh's tenure, and best overall since 2006.
The Wolverines improved to 11–0 by defeating Illinois on a last-minute field goal, 19–17, then won a second straight Big Ten East Division title with a 45–23 victory over Ohio State. It was the Wolverines' first 12 win regular season since 1905, fourth 12 win season overall and their first victory in Columbus, Ohio, since 2000. Harbaugh was named Big Ten Coach of the Year for the 2022 season.
On December 3, the Wolverines reached 13–0 for the first time in school history by winning the Big Ten Championship Game over Purdue, 43–22. The following day, Michigan was awarded its second consecutive College Football Playoff bid, seeded second and placed in the Fiesta Bowl.
On December 31, the Wolverines lost their semifinal match in the Fiesta Bowl to TCU, 51–45, to end the 2022 season 13–1.
On August 23, 2023, Michigan announced that it was self-imposing a suspension on Harbaugh for the first three games of the 2023 season due to violating recruiting regulations. Michigan won all three games in his absence.
Harbaugh returned to lead Michigan to six straight victories, including a 49–0 win at Michigan State, the largest margin of victory in that rivalry since 1947.
On November 10, the Big Ten Conference announced another three-game suspension against Harbaugh, as part of the investigation into the Michigan Wolverines football sign-stealing scandal. On November 23, Michigan informed the NCAA that they would credit Harbaugh with the win–loss record from the three games to conclude the regular season. Despite the suspensions, Michigan went undefeated in the regular season, including a 30–24 victory over Ohio State.
Harbaugh resumed as head coach to lead Michigan to a 26–0 win over Iowa in the Big Ten Championship, a 27–20 overtime win over Alabama in the Rose Bowl, and a 34–13 win over Washington in the CFP National Championship on January 8, 2024. The win gave Michigan its 12th claimed national championship in school history, their first since 1997, and first undisputed title since 1948.
Harbaugh served as head coach for 9 games and was officially credited with 12 wins during Michigan's 15–0 national championship season.
On August 7, 2024, Harbaugh was given a four-year show-cause order from the NCAA to be enforced until August 6, 2028, after he was found to have committed "unethical conduct" in 2021 by violating NCAA recruitment rules which were enacted during the COVID-19 dead period. If Harbaugh were to take another collegiate job while the show-cause is in effect, he would be suspended for the first season of his return and would be barred from athletics-related activities (including team travel, practice, video study, recruiting and team meetings) until the order expires.
On August 15, 2025, Harbaugh was given an additional 10-year show-cause order that will run consecutively with his previous four-year show-cause order for his failure to promote compliance and monitor his staff in regards to the illegal scouting and sign-stealing operation as well as his lack of cooperation in request for records and interviews after he took the Chargers job. This additional show-cause will start at the end of the first show-cause and will run until August 6, 2038. As with the 2024 infractions case, if Harbaugh returns to the collegiate ranks before the show-cause ends, he will be suspended for the first season of his return.
