Jim Harbaugh and Michigan have flopped again, and this latest embarrassment appears to have finally exposed the underlying tension that has come with each disappointing loss for one of college football’s most polarizing figures.

If Harbaugh - a Michigan Man, a Disciple of Bo, Mr. Enthusiasm Unknown to Mankind, a guy who came yards short of winning a Super Bowl before coming home (but does have a problem with names) - cannot get the Wolverines back to the mountaintop, who can?

OK, we’ll give you Urban Meyer and Nick Saban. But they are not walking through the door anytime soon. And that’s the list. Which is why Michigan likely has to give Harbaugh as much time as he wants to try to win the Big Ten, or at least wait until he gives up and returns to the NFL. Because they are not going to get a better coach anytime soon.

Introducing Rutgers Sports Insider: Sign up for exclusive news, behind-the-scenes observations and the ability to text message directly with beat writers

But the good news for Michigan? A reeling Rutgers team is coming to Ann Arbor on Saturday (12 p.m., BTN). Here is a first look at the Wolverines:

RUTGERS AT NO. 20 MICHIGAN (-28)

Last week: The Wolverines were pummeled in Madison, getting whipped by Wisconsin in a 35-14 loss. Michigan’s offense was anemic again and Jonathan Taylor ran for 203 yards to power the Badgers. Michigan is 2-1 this year. It opened the season with a less-than-impressive home win over Middle Tennessee, then survived a whale of an Army upset bid in a double-overtime win.

THREE THINGS ON OFFENSE

Shea Patterson is still QB1: The passer entered the season as a Heisman Trophy sleeper after a strong 2018 with the Wolverines, but Patterson has struggled this year and is currently battling an apparent shoulder injury that benched him against Wisconsin. Harbaugh remains committed to him, though, and said Patterson is “probable” and remains the starter during his Monday press conference. Joe Milton will be the backup with Dylan McCaffrey, the biggest threat to take Patterson’s job, expected to be out with a concussion.

Josh Gattis: The Wolverines hired the offensive coordinator away from Alabama this offseason to much fanfare. The early returns have been dreadful. Turnovers and poor execution (zero-for-10 on third down against Wisconsin) have hampered Michigan. Quarterback play has been poor and the run game has been subpar. Gattis was supposed to open the scheme up and get the ball to playmakers in space following years of Harbaugh’s more traditional attack, but it has not worked.

Donovan Peoples-Jones: The star wideout missed the first two games of the season due to injury, but returned against the Badgers and caught a short touchdown pass late in garbage time. Rutgers has to prepare as if he will be close to 100 percent on Saturday. Tight end Sean McKeon is expected to be out this weekend, though.

THREE THINGS ON DEFENSE

It’s not last year’s Michigan defense: Rutgers was dealing with a dominant unit last year. After losing a wave of draft picks, the Wolverines are still very good, but have come down a bit. Michigan has registered five takeaways in three games, but is averaging three giveaways a game. The Wolverines’ minus-4 margin is the Big Ten’s second-worst behind Rutgers and Purdue at minus-6. The pass defense is strong - Michigan leads the Big Ten in passes of 10 or more yards allowed - but the run defense has struggled. Sacks have been at a premium. There are not as many potential game-wreckers on the defensive line. Teams are converting about the average clip of third downs. It’s been a middle of the pack total defense so far in the Big Ten.

Run to compete? Rutgers has the Big Ten’s worst run defense so far this season - at least from a statistical standpoint - but the Wolverines are right behind them. Michigan has given up 209 yards a game on the ground and while that number is a bit inflated by back-to-back games against Army and Jonathan Taylor, it’s one Rutgers has to like. The Scarlet Knights need to re-establish their own ground game behind Raheem Blackshear and Isaih Pacheco and they did run the ball relatively well against the Wolverines last season (193 yards total, 113 on 32 carries if you take out Pacheco’s 80-yard touchdown run).

Michael Dwumfour: The New Jersey native - he played at Scotch Plains-Fanwood and DePaul - has missed the first three games due to injury, but Harbaugh said the defensive tackle should play this week. Dwumfour was always overshadowed by his buddy and former SPF/Michigan teammate, Rashan Gary, in recruiting. But after following the future first-round pick to Ann Arbor, Dwumfour has developed into a steady contributor for the Wolverines.

Going to Ann Arbor? Plan your Rutgers road trip: Travel services at TripAdvisor, Cheapflights.com, Uber, Priceline, Expedia, Orbitz

INITIAL INSTINCT

Well, Rutgers has lost its last four games to Michigan by an average of six touchdowns, but it’s a hair over four if you take out 78-0. That’s where Las Vegas has placed the line, and that sounds about right. The only reason I would pick Rutgers to cover is if you think Michigan will shut the Scarlet Knights out (certainly possible) while failing to score 30 points itself (ditto). This is a bad spot for Rutgers. A very angry Michigan team is about to get well.

Get Rutgers Sports Insider text messages from reporters: Cut through the clutter of social media and communicate directly with the Rutgers beat writers. Plus, exclusive news and analysis every day. Sign up now.

James Kratch may be reached at jkratch@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JamesKratch. Find NJ.com Rutgers Football on Facebook.