Because that is what is staring Harbaugh in the face. There is no palatable way that Michigan can sit down and pay him in this market a contract equivalent to his current one. He earned that contract in 2014 based on his coaching pedigree and his market value given that it was thought there were numerous NFL teams willing to make him the highest or second highest paid coach in the league if he stayed in the NFL.
I just don't see how this marriage continues barring a turnaround that includes a shocking win at OSU. If Harbaugh was operating under a long term extension right now, then he'd be back. We'd chalk it up as a bad year in a weird COVID year (Kelly as many have mentioned survived a 3-9 season in 2016). But Harbaugh picked the wrong year to fall below his floor.
As for replacements, it could be the most underwhelming yet. I have serious questions whether we would pay the buyout for Campbell (really comes down if Ross or some donor does it). If Milton performs better down the stretch, I really think it may be Gattis because: (1) he will be cheap and (2) if he bombs, we could get out of the contract quickly without paying any buyout.
I just don't see how this marriage continues barring a turnaround that includes a shocking win at OSU. If Harbaugh was operating under a long term extension right now, then he'd be back. We'd chalk it up as a bad year in a weird COVID year (Kelly as many have mentioned survived a 3-9 season in 2016). But Harbaugh picked the wrong year to fall below his floor.
As for replacements, it could be the most underwhelming yet. I have serious questions whether we would pay the buyout for Campbell (really comes down if Ross or some donor does it). If Milton performs better down the stretch, I really think it may be Gattis because: (1) he will be cheap and (2) if he bombs, we could get out of the contract quickly without paying any buyout.
