On the eve of a court appearance that would have pitted Jim Harbaugh and Michigan against the Big Ten conference, for which the university is a flagship member, the parties called an end to their weeklong standoff by reaching a settlement on Thursday.
Per the terms of the agreement, which were announced by Michigan and confirmed by the Big Ten, the league will end its investigation into the Wolverines for alleged breaches of the Sportsmanship Policy in exchange for Harbaugh serving the remainder of what was initially a three-game suspension. Harbaugh was barred from coaching in last week’s win over Penn State, and now he’ll miss forthcoming regular season contests at Maryland on Saturday and at home against Ohio State on Nov. 25. Offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore will continue to serve as acting coach before Harbaugh’s return in the postseason.
A separate NCAA investigation into the sign-stealing operation led by former Wolverines analyst Connor Stalions, who resigned earlier this month after the university initially suspended him with pay, remains open and is unlikely to be completed until 2024.
Both Michigan and the Big Ten issued statements on Thursday afternoon.
From Michigan: “This morning, the University, Coach Harbaugh, and the Big Ten resolved their pending litigation. The Conference agreed to close its investigation, and the University and Coach Harbaugh agreed to accept the three-game suspension. Coach Harbaugh, with the University’s support, decided to accept this sanction to return the focus to our student-athletes and their performance on the field. The Conference has confirmed that it is not aware of any information suggesting Coach Harbaugh’s involvement in the allegations. The University continues to cooperate fully with the NCAA’s investigation.”
From the league: “The Big Ten Conference’s commitment to student-athletes, sportsmanship and the Commissioner’s duty to protect the integrity of competition will never waver. Today’s decision by the University of Michigan to withdraw its legal challenge against the Conference’s November 10th Notice of Disciplinary Action is indicative of the high standards and values that the Conference and the University seek to uphold. The University of Michigan is a valued member of the Big Ten Conference and the Conference will continue to work cooperatively with the University and the NCAA during this process.”
Given the careful wording of each statement, it’s clear both sides walked away from the negotiations with elements of the resolution they feel comfortable with.
