1.) Harbaugh HAS to recruit.
He's done a pretty good job of that. Average class rankings in past 4 years:
Alabama: 2.0
Georgia: 3.0
Ohio State: 5.5
LSU: 7.25
Oklahoma: 10.5
Michigan: 10.75
Clemson: 11.0
Obviously, you can always do better, but the recruiting is pretty good.
2.) Harbaugh has to win a few important football games.
Each year it does have some good wins mixed in -- importantly except for against Ohio State.
3.) Then Michigan has to win regularly.
Yep.
It's a hole that Michigan will have to dig out of. It won't happen in one year. Recruitment is a must. Coaching must improve and important games against Bowl opponents and ranked teams is a must.
I think that there are three things. First is that Ohio State since Meyer is, every year, one of the best teams in the country. Second is that, under Harbaugh in The Game, Michigan has too many gaffs either in the coaching or play or both, and those need to get turned down. Third is that, if one single controversial call had gone differently in 2016, things today would seem different.