Despite already serving a three-game suspension from the Big Ten stemming from the investigation into illegal sign-stealing by the Michigan football program, Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh could potentially miss more time in the 2024 season.
In a report during FOX’s Big Noon Kickoff pregame show on Saturday, Bruce Feldman said he would not be surprised if Harbaugh was suspended “for the bulk of the 2024 season” as a result of the NCAA’s investigation regarding impermissible sign-stealing in the Michigan program, in addition to a separate investigation into potential recruiting violations that occurred during the COVID-19 dead period.
"It would not be surprising if Jim Harbaugh could be suspended for the bulk of the 2024 season, I'm told." @BruceFeldmanCFB breaks down the Harbaugh suspension and his future at Michigan pic.twitter.com/7b1A8t7UIf
— Big Noon Kickoff (@BNKonFOX) November 18, 2023
Despite an initial plan to fight Harbaugh’s current three-game suspension, Michigan announced on Thursday that it would no longer seek a temporary restraining order and accept Harbaugh’s suspension, holding the coach out for the Wolverines’ final games against Maryland and Ohio State. Harbaugh previously served a three-game suspension earlier this season as a result of the previously-mentioned investigation into recruiting violations during the COVID-19 dead period.
During his report, Feldman added that “[Michigan] got spooked. They had learned that the Big Ten had really damning evidence and they did a 180,” regarding the program's change in tone.
The program's reluctance to push back against the Big Ten also coincided with Michigan's firing of linebackers coach Chris Partridge, who allegedly tried to destroy evidence regarding Michigan’s sign-stealing scheme, on Friday.
