The Big Ten has suspended Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh for the final three games of the 2023 season as the NCAA investigation into alleged sign-stealing by former staffer Connor Stalions continues. Commissioner Tony Petitti’s punitive action falls under the conference’s sportsmanship policy, which is not constrained by the same lengthy protocols and bureaucracy that will likely drag the NCAA’s investigation well into next year.
While Harbaugh will be barred from on-site workouts during Michigan’s final three games against Penn State, Maryland and Ohio State, he will be allowed to participate in practices and other “football team activities.”
“The University of Michigan was found to be in violation of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Policy by conducting an improper, in-person scouting operation over several years that resulted in an unfair competitive advantage that compromised the integrity of the competition,” wrote the conference in a statement.
“Big Ten Conference Agreement 10.01 states, in part: “The Big Ten Conference expects that all competitions involving a member institution will be conducted without compromise to fundamental elements of sportsmanship. These fundamental elements include competitive integrity, courtesy to all and respect. especially towards opponents and officials.’”
Michigan and Harbaugh proactively planned legal action if the Big Ten imposed a suspension. Now that the conference has done so, the university has hinted that such a move is imminent.
“Commissioner Petitti’s hasty action today suggests that this is more about responding to pressure from other conference members than a desire to apply the rules fairly and impartially,” the school said in a statement. “By taking this action at this time, the Commissioner is personally sidelining himself and altering the level playing field he claims to be trying to maintain. And by doing so on Veterans Day – a court holiday – to try to thwart that.” Preventing a university from seeking immediate legal relief is hardly a sign of impartiality.
“To ensure fairness in the process, we intend to work with Coach Harbaugh to seek an injunction to prevent this disciplinary action from taking effect.”
The Big Ten stood by its decision, saying it reviewed extensive material before taking its punitive action.
“The conference received and reviewed extensive documentation and information during the course of its investigation. This includes the Master Schedule and other documents and information provided by the NCAA to the University and which the Conference now has in its possession, notwithstanding the University’s original approval.” Refusal to consent to the Conference receiving such materials from the NCAA to obtain. The conference rejects the university’s suggestion in its response that any decision on the matter is based on “prejudice and bias.” The Conference does not play favorites among its members or take any action against its members based on prejudice or bias. Failure to act in the extraordinary circumstances here could cause other conference members to reasonably conclude that the conference has chosen to favor the university over all other members.”
Following the Big Ten’s disciplinary action on Friday, the NCAA explained the reason for sharing information from an active investigation with the conference in a statement to Yahoo Sports.
“The NCAA takes competitive integrity seriously, and when the association has reason to raise time-sensitive competitive integrity issues with schools and leagues, it has done so and will continue to do so. The NCAA obtained the school’s consent before disclosing the information mentioned in the document. The NCAA’s investigative and violation process continues in this matter.
Michigan President Santa Ono had previously implored Petitti to wait for “due process” during the NCAA investigation before acting.
“If you refuse to allow the NCAA investigative process to proceed, the Big 10 may not take any action against the university or its players or coaches without initiating our own investigation and giving us an opportunity to make our case,” Ono wrote in one Letter to Petitti, which is available from several outlets. “This is not only required by our conference rules, it is a question of fundamental fairness.”
Earlier this week, Michigan issued a response to the Big Ten’s notice of possible disciplinary action in which the school questioned the league’s authority – specifically that of the commissioner – to impose any punishment. Michigan also reportedly contained evidence that Ohio State and Rutgers shared the Wolverines’ signals with Purdue before the 2022 Big Ten Championship Game. Buckeyes coach Ryan Day and Scarlet Knights coach Greg Schiano have since denied these allegations.
The focus of the NCAA’s investigation is Stalions, who was initially suspended from the program but later resigned on Nov. 3 before the Wolverines’ Week 10 game against Purdue. Stallions allegedly established and maintained a network of employees and contractors to electronically record the offside lines of future Michigan opponents during signal stealing. Records show Stalions, along with several potential College Football Playoff opponents, purchased and distributed tickets at 12 Big Ten stadiums.
While stealing signs is not against NCAA rules, in-person pre-investigation and use of electronic devices to record signs is against the rules.
Of interest to the NCAA and the Big Ten is Harbaugh’s role in the sign-stealing efforts. Harbaugh has previously denied knowledge of the Stalions’ operation or the alleged sign-stealing ring. NCAA statutes state that Harbaugh can be disciplined even if it is determined he had no knowledge of the violations.
“I want to make it clear that I and my staff will cooperate fully in the investigation of this matter,” Harbaugh said. “I have no knowledge or information that the University of Michigan football program is illegally stealing signals, nor have I directed any staff or others to participate in any off-campus scouting operation. I am not aware of anyone on our staff doing this or leading this action.
Harbaugh’s suspension would be his second of the season. Michigan previously self-imposed a three-game suspension on the coach related to misleading investigators during an NCAA investigation into illegal recruiting and coaching practices during the COVID-19 death period. A settlement negotiated with the NCAA was rejected by the Infractions Committee, meaning Harbaugh still faces additional penalties in the case.
Since the sign-stealing investigation became public, Michigan has defeated Michigan State and Purdue by a combined 90-13. After viral images surfaced purporting to show Stallions on Central Michigan’s sideline during Michigan State’s home opener against the Chippewas, the Spartans avoided using sideline signals. The following week, Boilermakers coach Ryan Walters said on his coach’s broadcast that he knew “for a fact” that a Michigan sign stealer had been at “a few” past games.
The NCAA’s sign-stealing investigation into Michigan is a fast-moving story, and CBS Sports is covering it in real time. Click here for live coverage.