The referendum on Jim Harbaugh's fifth season at Michigan had been set for Nov. 30, the day Ohio State visits Ann Arbor. No coach and team entered the season needing a single win more than Harbaugh and his Wolverines did against the dreaded Buckeyes.
But three games in, Michigan is already facing a crisis. Saturday's 35-14 loss at Wisconsin -- after an off week, which followed an unsettling double-overtime win over Army -- sparked a Maize-and-Blue panic. The Wolverines trailed Wisconsin 35-0, fumbled on their opening possession for the third consecutive game, failed to convert on all 11 of their third-down attempts, didn't score for nearly 43 minutes and were outrushed 359-40.