James Franklin to Jim Harbaugh parallels are interesting.
For about six years, Harbaugh had the label of a guy who couldn’t win the big game. Couldn’t beat Ohio State, couldn’t win T10 games, perpetually 10-3, perpetually right on the edge of that elite group unable to break in.
It took COVID and nearly getting fired for Harbaugh to turn the corner. Franklin isn’t getting a COVID. And to his credit, outside of 2020, Harbaugh never had a loss like Franklin just had. He only lost twice to unranked teams. Once was a rivalry game in an 8-5 year to MSU and the other was his Michigan debut against an Utah team that ended the season 10-3.
I don’t think they should fire Franklin. But I do think he should be on as thin of ice as Harbaugh was on entering 2021.