College Football Insider Predicts Jim Harbaugh's Future With Michigan Amidst NCAA Investigation
Michigan continues to make headline news but for all the wrong reasons. It's not for the fact the Wolverines are 8-0 and are dominating every team they play. No, it's because Michigan is involved in another NCAA investigation.
Michigan is being heavily investigated for illegal sign stealing and low-level staffer, Connor Stalions, is right in the center of it all. Stalions, 28 years old, purchased tickets to over 30 games during the past three years and allegedly transferred his tickets to at least three people who would then attend those games and use electronics to film or record the sidelines.
There has been no concrete evidence to confirm Jim Harbaugh knew what was going on in his program. He put out a statement last week that he did not know anything illegal was taking place, nor does he condone anything against NCAA rules.
I want to make it clear that I, and my staff, will fully cooperate with the investigation into this matter. I do not have any knowledge or information regarding the University of Michigan football program illegally stealing signals, nor have I directed staff members or others to participate in an off-campus scouting assignment. I have no awareness of anyone on our staff having done that or having directed that action.
I do not condone or tolerate anyone doing anything illegal or against the NCAA rules. No matter what program or organization that I have led throughout my career, my instructions and awareness of how we scout opponents have always been firmly within the rules. Pursuant to NCAA rules, I will not be able to comment further while this investigation takes place.
This is all taking place while Michigan and Harbaugh were working on a contract extension and it was widely expected to be finalized this week during the bye week. But with another investigation taking place, on top of the 2020 COVID-19 recruiting violations, Harbaugh's extension might be pushed toward the backburner for now.
Bruce Feldman, a top college football insider and reporter, with The Athletic and Fox was on The Rich Eisen show this week. He believes with what's going on inside the Michigan program and the fact Harbaugh has flirted with the NFL in recent years, this will be the last season Jim coaches Michigan.
“I could be wrong on this, and I probably will be, but it doesn’t seem like the NCAA ever moves this fast,” Feldman said on The Rich Eisen Show. “So I think at some point Jim Harbaugh wins, Jim Harbaugh leaves. I don’t know if he goes to the Bears; I don’t know if he goes to the Chargers. I don’t know where he goes. But I don’t think he’s going to be there next year.”
“My sense, and I’ve talked about this on this show with Rich, is that Jim Harbaugh, who’s obviously danced with the NFL a couple times the last two years and he has a really good record as an NFL head coach in the past, will bounce after this season,” Feldman said
Feldman, like everyone else, doesn't know how the NCAA will handle this investigation. This is unprecedented waters and with how obvious it is that the NCAA dislikes Harbaugh, is it possible they try and hammer Michigan? Feldman wouldn't rule out the NCAA taking away a national championship from Michigan if it were to win one this season.
“And the stuff that he’s already in the middle of the NCAA hot water with in terms of COVID violations during the COVID dead period from a few years ago, that they won’t be able to do anything to him and they may be able to add sanctions to his alma mater, Michigan. But what happens with this? Can they get out in front of him or if Michigan wins a national title, is that something that could be taken away? I don’t think anybody has any answers to this right now."