%20%20--%3E%0A%3Csvg%20version%3D%221.1%22%20id%3D%22Layer_1%22%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20xmlns%3Axlink%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F1999%2Fxlink%22%20x%3D%220px%22%20y%3D%220px%22%0A%09%20width%3D%2239px%22%20height%3D%2240px%22%20viewBox%3D%220%200%2039%2040%22%20enable-background%3D%22new%200%200%2039%2040%22%20xml%3Aspace%3D%22preserve%22%3E%0A%3Cpath%20fill%3D%22%23FFFFFF%22%20d%3D%22M38.5%2C7H28.2v26h10.3V7z%22%2F%3E%0A%3Cpath%20fill-rule%3D%22evenodd%22%20clip-rule%3D%22evenodd%22%20fill%3D%22%23FFFFFF%22%20d%3D%22M26.1%2C25.5c0%2C5.8-4.1%2C7.5-12.9%2C7.5C3.9%2C33%2C0%2C31.2%2C0%2C25.2v-1.1h11.6%0A%09v2.4c0%2C0.7%2C0.1%2C1.4%2C1.2%2C1.4c1%2C0%2C1.2-0.4%2C1.2-1.3v-0.9c0-1.6-0.9-1.6-3.5-2.2C2.2%2C21.7%2C0%2C19.7%2C0%2C15.3v-0.9C0%2C9.3%2C5.5%2C7%2C12.9%2C7%0A%09c10.2%2C0%2C12.8%2C2.6%2C12.8%2C7.4v1.8h-11v-2.9c0-0.6-0.4-1.1-1.2-1.1c-0.6%2C0-1.2%2C0.4-1.2%2C1.1v0.9c0%2C1.5%2C0.9%2C2%2C3.3%2C2.5%0A%09c8%2C1.6%2C10.5%2C3.3%2C10.5%2C7.5V25.5z%22%2F%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E%0A)
College Football World Reacts to Big Ten’s Polarizing Jim Harbaugh Suspension
Finally, some resolution has been reached in the Big Ten investigation into Michigan's alleged sign stealing.
Friday afternoon, the conference announced that it has banned Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh from coaching on the field in Michigan’s final three games of the 2023 regular season. The punishment will leave the Wolverines without its leader on the sidelines for its remaining games against Penn State, Maryland and Ohio State, though Michigan is seeking a court order to block the suspension from taking effect.
The punishment brought a tentative end—for the time being—to one of the most closely watched college football scandals in recent memory. It also generated a bevy of reactions from college football fans and observers, ranging from incredulous to humorous.
Surprise! Buckeyes fans found the suspension light.
What kind of half punishment is this? Pettiti took the easy way out, doing something but not really doing something. https://t.co/nX7UFFbCzk
— CleBuckeye (@CleBuckeye23) November 10, 2023
Some wondered whether Harbaugh would take the route Connor Stalions is accused of taking.
Is he allowed to go to other games? https://t.co/un1UbGbL89
— Lucy Rohden (@lucy_rohden) November 10, 2023
Fans of coach-needy NFL teams began circling the wagons.
its time https://t.co/PbhKusPP9X pic.twitter.com/31JuNbE1uK
— DOM (@DOM_Frederic) November 10, 2023
Jokes about how Michigan's administration would react abounded.
Santa Ono finding the nearest courthouse: https://t.co/tWhr7EWfcn pic.twitter.com/kZmQu96izE
— College Sports Only (@CollegeSportsO) November 10, 2023
Several suggested that Harbaugh should simply stick around and test the limits of the Big Ten’s punishment.
Pull an Arsene Wenger https://t.co/e1UWkx0fZ8 pic.twitter.com/G67YlHC5sl
— Sickos Committee (@SickosCommittee) November 10, 2023
All told, it has been an eventful year in Ann Arbor.
Wow, with these three games Michigan will have played more games without Harbaugh on the sidelines than with him this season. https://t.co/ImSb3Hk2tw
— Matthew Shelton (@M_Shelton33) November 10, 2023
Patrick Andres is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. He joined SI in December 2022, having worked for The Blade, Athlon Sports, Fear the Sword and Diamond Digest. Andres has covered everything from zero-attendance Big Ten basketball to a seven-overtime college football game. He is a graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism with a double major in history .