If Jim Harbaugh is indeed back at Michigan next season, he might not be back for every game.
Michigan and Harbaugh are under investigation by the NCAA for alleged violations during the COVID-19 recruiting dead period, according to ESPN, and Harbaugh is at risk of facing a multi-game suspension for either "not complying with or misleading" investigators.
The alleged violations include making impermissible contract with recruits during NCAA-mandated dead periods and using a defensive analyst as an on-field coach.
While most of the infractions are considered Level II violations, Harbaugh's apparent lack of cooperation with the investigation is a Level I violation that could bring steeper penalties, a suspension among them.
Harbaugh, 59, issued a statement Thursday amid rumors of his departure to the NFL that he expects to remain the coach next season at Michigan, with whom he signed a five-year extension last offseason. He recently spoke with the Carolina Panthers about their head coaching vacancy and interviewed for the same job with the Vikings last year amid his reported "growing frustration" with the state of college football.
We'll see what impact, if any, the NCAA's investigation has on his future in Ann Arbor.
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