Jim Harbaugh is not on the sideline for today’s game against Penn State.
After the Big Ten suspended Harbaugh from coaching in games for the remainder of the regular season on Friday, Michigan filed for a temporary restraining order that would have prevented the conference from enforcing that suspension. That request, however, will not be ruled upon today.
The official wording on the ruling: No order will be signed at this time. https://t.co/aYebSrQoJ0
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) November 11, 2023
Per ESPN’s Pete Thamel, a hearing has been scheduled for next Friday, Nov. 17, potentially allowing Harbaugh to coach in Michigan’s next game against Maryland and its regular-season finale against Ohio State if the Washtenaw County court rules in Michigan’s favor.
"We look forward to presenting our case next week where we intend to demonstrate that the Big Ten has not acted legally or fairly," Michigan said in a statement released Saturday morning.
Offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore is serving as Michigan’s acting head coach for the Wolverines’ top-10 matchup with Penn State, which kicked off at noon Saturday on FOX.
Harbaugh was suspended by the Big Ten on Friday after the conference determined that Michigan violated the Big Ten 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.”
While the NCAA’s investigation into Michigan remains ongoing, the Big Ten said its notice of disciplinary action to Michigan that it “knew and could prove” Connor Stalions orchestrated a sign-sealing operation that included in-person scouting and filming opponents’ signals, both of which are prohibited by the NCAA.
Michigan responded to the Big Ten’s disciplinary notice by seeking a court order in an effort to prevent the suspension from taking effect. In a statement released by Michigan shortly after Harbaugh’s suspension was announced, the Wolverines argued that the league’s action “disregards the Conference’s own handbook, violates basic tenets of due process, and sets an untenable precedent of assessing penalties before an investigation has been completed.”
Statement from the University of Michigan: pic.twitter.com/QcYzBZkXPn
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) November 10, 2023
As it stands, Harbaugh also will not be allowed to coach in any of Michigan’s final three games of the regular season, including The Game against Ohio State on Nov. 25, though he is allowed to coach the team during the week. Michigan will hope to get a favorable ruling before the next two games, however, that would allow Harbaugh to return to the sideline when the Wolverines play Maryland next week in College Park.
