The Michigan football and Michigan State football rivalry never sleeps, but perhaps for just a moment, the two sides can agree on something — each has an elite coach.
MSU's Mel Tucker and U-M’s Jim Harbaugh were named among 20 coaches on the Dodd Trophy watch list.
The Dodd Trophy is awarded annually to the Football Bowl Subdivision coach who "best embodies the three pillars of success: scholarship, leadership and integrity."
Three other Big Ten coaches made the preseason list: Ohio State's Ryan Day, Wisconsin's Paul Chryst and Iowa's Kirk Ferentz.
Cincinnati's Luke Fickell, also on this year's watch list, won the award in 2021 after leading the Bearcats to an undefeated season and the program's first College Football Playoff appearance.