Dave Portnoy Questions Big Ten’s Future If ?America’s Team? Michigan Were to Depart

There are a few notable things that qualify as poking the bear when it comes to Dave Portnoy. Taking a dig at one of the following ought to do the trick. Taylor Swift, the New England Patriots, and his alma mater, the University of Michigan, appear to be what Portnoy prizes above all else. Of course, with the Patriots, he had to relax his stance, given their record this season.

Dave Portnoy will defend the other two entities to the ends of the Earth. He has done so on many an occasion so far. Most prominent among those examples is his defense of his alma mater, which is presently mired in controversy. That has seen the Michigan Wolverines’ football coach Jim Harbaugh suspended for the rest of the regular season by the Big Ten. An NCAA investigation is still ongoing. Portnoy’s response to the situation has not been conciliatory. He wondered aloud about the fate of the conference if Michigan were to leave it.

Dave Portnoy posits grim fate for Big Ten if Michigan leaves

Dave Portnoy took to X and posed the same question. He wrote, “If America’s Team left the Big 10, would the Big 10 even exist?” For context, it was a reply to a tweet from Brett McMurphy. McMurphy revealed that the Wolverines’ visit to the home of the Penn State Nittany Lions was the most-watched college football game in Week 11. There were 9.16 million viewers who tuned in to that game on FOX, including Harbaugh. Of course, the statistics covered only Nielsen-rated networks/services.

In their fourth game this season with Harbaugh missing from the sidelines, the Wolverines eked out a hard-fought win. The Wolverines beat the Nittany Lions 24-15. Quarterback and Heisman candidate J.J. McCarthy had another game to forget. He completed seven of eight attempted passes that traversed 60 yards in total. His teammate, Blake Corum, scored two rushing touchdowns, including a 30-yard run.

Wolverines remain on track for a playoff berth

The Michigan Wolverines are still in pole position in the Big Ten East table. Their biggest rivals, the Ohio State Buckeyes, are also unbeaten so far this season. They beat the Michigan State Spartans 38-3. Both teams boast a 10-0 record. The Wolverines will travel to the home of the Maryland Terrapins next, before hosting the Buckeyes in the final game of the regular season.

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Dave Portnoy had advocated Michigan leaving the Big Ten in the past. He cited the lack of a competitive spirit in the other teams in the conference, making Michigan a necessity as he put it. It remains to be seen if “America’s team” resorts to that tactic. Despite the incidents surrounding them off the field, they remain a fearsome proposition on it. A playoff berth is well within their reach.

Even so, their head coach does not have a great record in the Bowls. Jim Harbaugh’s post-season record at Michigan is 1-6. Only time will tell if there is a successful playoff run in their immediate future.

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