The Big Ten announced on Friday that University of Michigan head football coach Jim Harbaugh will be sidelined for the last three games of the regular season. This decision comes in the wake of an NCAA investigation into alleged sign stealing by Harbaugh and the team, which was announced three weeks ago.
Despite the Wolverines’ undefeated 9-0 record, they are set to face Penn State, with an 8-1 record, in Happy Valley on Saturday. Harbaugh will not be allowed to coach from the sidelines during games but can still serve as head coach during practice sessions throughout the week.
The university expressed dismay at the Commissioner’s swift judgment, especially considering the ongoing NCAA investigation in which they claim full cooperation. The statement suggested that the ruling might be influenced by pressure from other conference members rather than a genuine desire to apply rules fairly.
The university further criticized the Commissioner for personally intervening and altering the perceived level playing field. They announced their intention to seek a court order, alongside Coach Harbaugh, to prevent the disciplinary action from taking effect.
Earlier in the week, the team submitted a 10-page letter to the Big Ten opposing potential punishment. Sources revealed the possibility of invoking emergency legal action if punishment is imposed before the completion of a full investigation.
The Big Ten asserted that the university violated the conference’s sportsmanship policy by engaging in an impermissible, in-person scouting operation over multiple years, providing an unfair competitive advantage that compromised the integrity of competition. The penalty is imposed on the institution, but Harbaugh is the one serving the punishment.
The nature of the alleged sign stealing remains unclear, as Harbaugh had previously denied any involvement. Reports from Yahoo Sports suggested the NCAA was investigating whether Michigan sent representatives to opponents’ games to gain information on their signage.
The NCAA football rule book explicitly prohibits recording signals given by opposing players, coaches, or team personnel. Both Michigan and Harbaugh have committed to cooperating with the ongoing NCAA investigation.
