Big Ten decides on discipline for Jim Harbaugh

Aug 31, 2019; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh before the game against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

The Big Ten has reportedly decided on discipline for coach Jim Harbaugh over the Michigan Wolverines’ alleged sign-stealing.

The league plans to prohibit Harbaugh from being on the Michigan sideline for the rest of the regular season, as first reported by Pete Thamel of ESPN. Harbaugh will still be allowed to prepare the team during the week, but will not be allowed to attend the games themselves.

In a statement, the conference cited a violation of the league’s sportsmanship policy by “conducting an impermissible, in-person scouting operation over multiple years, resulting in an unfair competitive advantage that compromised the integrity of competition.”

The Wolverines play at Penn State on Saturday afternoon. Harbaugh’s suspension is effectively for three games, as the Wolverines also have a trip to Maryland before closing the season at home against Ohio State. The games against Penn State and Ohio State are unquestionably the biggest of Michigan’s season.

The decision to punish Harbaugh over the sign-stealing allegations despite the NCAA being in the early stages of its investigation comes with the Big Ten under increasing pressure from its other members to take some sort of action. The school is prepared to take any suspension to court, countering that no evidence has emerged directly linking Harbaugh to any wrongdoing.