U-M's struggles began long before Jim Harbaugh was anointed the savior of Michigan football. Former head coach Rich Rodriguez Rodriguez finished his Michigan coaching career 0–3 against Ohio State and 0–3 against Michigan State, along with the lowest winning percentage (.405) of any coach in the history of the program. Though Brady Hoke fared slightly better, he finished his Michigan coaching career with a combined 2-6 record against both Michigan State and Ohio State.
Combined, Harbaugh's predecessors went a whopping 2-12 against Michigan's biggest rivals during a seven year stretch.
Though things have improved slightly under Harbaugh's watch, he's still a combined 3-9 against Michigan State and Ohio State, 0-2 against current MSU head coach Mel Tucker, 0-1 against current OSU head coach Ryan Day and now 0-9 against AP top 15 opponents on the road.