INDIANAPOLIS– The residual effect of the SEC’s domination of the College Football Playoffs can be found everywhere in the Division I map.Most recently, there has been speculation whether Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, whose Big Ten championship team was dismantled by Georgia, 34-11 in the semi-finals, might consider return to the NFL following a 12-2 season.
There reportedly has been interest from the Las Vegas Raiders and reports Harbaugh had an interest in the New York Giants’ job or the Chicago Bears’ vacancy. And a lot of fuel was added when a recruit’s father told reporters Harbaugh could entertain NFL offers.
Fox’s NFL insider Jay Glazer has gone as far to suggest Harbaugh has been calling around asking for people, in case he gets an NFL job, if they would join his staff.
Harbaugh said publicly after the Georgia game this was only the beginning. But despite slaying Ohio State’s Big Ten dragon he couldn’t come close to the SEC powerhouses Alabama or Georgia, which dominate recruiting and performance levels.
Meanwhile, Harbaugh went 44-19 -1 in four years with the San Francisco 49ers, including a Super Bowl appearance, proving he could win at that level, unlike other college coaches like Urban Meyer, who won three titles at Florida and Ohio State, but was a train wreck in Jacksonville.
At least the Big Ten got to the playoff. The Pac-12 hasn’t been there for five years, and the so-called Conference did not even win a bowl game this season.
New commissioner George Klaivkoff has told the LA Times his schools need to invest more in football. “I think it’s an easy case to make,’’ he said. “I don’t think it’s heavy lifting. You invest in football facilities and coaches and other football related matters and that leads to highly touted recruits and that leads to wins and wins lead to direct and indirect revenue. It certainly leads to increased alumni engagement, which results in more selective admissions processes and higher ratings for the schools.
The return on the investment in football is undeniable and I don’t think we have anyone in our organizations doesn’t agree with that.’’
The fact USC was able to lure Lincoln Riley away from Oklahoma for a $100 million dollar package is a step in the right direction if the Pac-12 wants to join the arms race.
