The Big Ten announced earlier today that Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh has been suspended for the final 3 games of the 2023 College Football regular season due to an alleged violation of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Policy. The Michigan Wolverines currently have a record of 9-0-0 ahead of their Week 10 matchup against #9 ranked Penn State. Michigan presently holds the #2 seed in NCAA Football.
This isn’t the first time this season where Jim Harbaugh has been suspended. Earlier this year, Harbaugh was forced to take leave due to accusations of the Wolverines recruiting players during the COVID-19 dead period. A dead period is considered to be a certain time throughout the year where coaches are prohibited from visiting recruits face-to-face. Harbaugh did not cooperate with the investigation and was absent during the first 3 games of the season.
The last 3 games for Michigan are very tough matchups, facing two top 10 ranked schools. Harbaugh will not be on the sidelines during either of these contests, including the rivalry game with Ohio State. The Wolverines have won the Big Ten Conference in 2 consecutive years with Harbaugh at the helm.
Jim Harbaugh, whether he coaches in the NFL or NCAA, is widely considered a top head coach in College Football. Michigan’s tough remaining schedule combined with their veteran head coach being absent will truly test Michigan’s roster. Harbaugh will be able to coach during practices, but he will be unable to be on the sideline during gameplay. The Ryan Day versus Jim Harbaugh matchup will not be happening in 2023.
*Note: All seedings mentioned throughout this article are based upon the College Football Coaches’ Poll.