11/17/23 - Michigan Football Program Accepts Suspension

Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh and U of M accepted a suspension and the Big Ten drops their investigation.

The court hearing set for today in Ann Arbor will not take place. 

The University of Michigan and football coach Jim Harbaugh have agreed to withdraw their case in court and accept a three-game suspension levied by the Big Ten Conference.  Michigan said the Big Ten has agreed to close its investigation in exchange for the school and Harbaugh accepting the suspension.

Michigan said in a statement that Harbaugh will serve the remainder of his suspension and that the conference has concluded its investigation:

Last Friday the Big Ten found the Wolverines’ football program in violation of its sportsmanship policy and suspended Harbaugh through the end of the regular season.   That impacted games against Penn State, Maryland, and Ohio State.  Michigan then filed for an emergency temporary restraining order in Washtenaw County court in hopes of reversing the decision. The case was set to be heard this morning.

Harbaugh’s program is currently under NCAA investigation for impermissible advanced scouting. The staffer at the center of the probe, Connor Stalions, is accused of purchasing tickets to more than 30 college football games, sending associates to those games to film future opponents’ sidelines and sending the tape back, all in an effort to decode signals. Sign-stealing is not prohibited under NCAA rules, but in-person scouting is. 

Harbaugh has denied having any knowledge or involvement in the scheme, and the Big Ten has reaffirmed its belief that Harbaugh was unaware of Stalions’ actions. In a 13-page letter to Michigan on Nov. 10 detailing the punishment, the Big Ten left the door open to further punishment “if it receives additional information concerning the scope and knowledge of, or participation in, the impermissible scheme.”