Kevin Spain
About the only thing that isn’t bad news for the Michigan football program is that it is playing Alabama in the College Football Playoff semifinals.
Everything else surrounding the program seems to be negative.
ESPN reported today that the NCAA sent Michigan a notice of allegations regarding alleged football staff violations during the COVID-19 recruiting dead period.
Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh faces a Level I violation for not cooperating with or misleading NCAA investigators about the alleged violations, the network reported.
In response, Harbaugh was suspended for the first three games of the season by Michigan.
Michigan football under investigation for sign-stealing
The football program is also under investigation over allegations of sign-stealing by assistant coach Connor Stalions. Stalions and the school parted ways in November.
Harbaugh was suspended for the final three games of the regular season by the Big Ten in response to those allegations. He coached in the Wolverines’ win against Iowa in the Big Ten title game.
ESPN reported that Michigan has 90 days to respond to the notice of allegations, and then the NCAA will have 60 days to issue a rebuttal.
Harbaugh will be coaching Michigan in the game against Alabama on Jan. 1.
Could Jim Harbaugh be leaving the Michigan football program?
Rumors have been flying that Harbaugh could consider an NFL job. He coached the San Francisco 49ers from 2011-14 and compiled a 44-19 record. In 2013, the Niners went to Super Bowl XLVII in New Orleans and lost 34-31 to the Baltimore Ravens.
Michigan has proposed a five-year, $55 million contract extension offer to Harbaugh, according to another report. The extension has not yet been signed.
