A Potential Suspension For Jim Harbaugh Looms Large As No. 3 Michigan Prepares For No. 10 Penn State

Although the Big Ten could choose to issue multiple punishments as part of its sportsmanship policy, the belief is that a multigame suspension for head coach Jim Harbaugh is most likely.

After receiving a notice of disciplinary action earlier this week, the University of Michigan issued its official response on Wednesday - and it came with a warning for commission Tony Petitti. 

"The conference should act cautiously when setting precedent given the reality that in-person scouting, collusion among opponents, and other questionable practices may well be far more prevalent than believed." 

That statement, included as part of the 10-page response, gives validity to the reporting that Michigan is more than prepared for a potential legal battle with the Big Ten, one that would include incriminating evidence against other programs within the conference. 

Despite the strong pushback from the University of Michigan, there is belief that the Big Ten could issue a punishment for violation of the league's sportsmanship policy as early as today. Penalties for violation of the policy could include one or more of the following: 

• A reprimand warning against committing a violation again
• Probation for a specified period of time
• Suspension for a period of time
• Contact may be denied to any prospective athlete
• An offending university may be barred from scheduling contests with other Big Ten schools
• A school may be barred from having games televised under "a conference television agreement"
• A school could be denied "all or some" conference income from TV or bowl revenue

As part of its 10-page response to the Big Ten, the University of Michigan addressed the sportsmanship policy directly.

We are not aware of a single instance in which the sportsmanship policy has ever been deployed as a backdoor way of holding an institution or individual responsible for a rules violation.

Nothing in your email suggests there is any basis to conclude that Coach Harbaugh committed an offensive action.

Although the Big Ten could choose to issue multiple punishments, the belief is that a multigame suspension for head coach Jim Harbaugh is most likely. If that happens, the expectation is that Harbaugh and the University of Michigan would take immediate legal action - presumably in the form of an injunction that would allow Harbaugh to remain coaching while the legal battle plays out. 

Not only will a potential legal battle between the University of Michigan and the Big Ten look bad for first year commissioner Tony Petitti, it could also prove to be a devastating move for the conference overall. Several reports suggest that Michigan is not only armed with a strong defense against any punishment given the current evidence presented, but that it is also in possession of evidence that would incriminate several other programs of the same - or worse - conduct. 

No. 3 Michigan will take the field this weekend in Happy Valley against No. 10 Penn State for what is unquestionably the biggest matchup of the year for the Wolverines. The biggest question right now is whether or not Jim Harbaugh will be joining his team on the sidelines.