REPORT: Harbaugh To Serve Three-Game Self-Imposed Suspension

According to a report published on Monday, Michigan is set to suspend head football coach Jim Harbaugh for the first three games of the 2023 season.

After news broke earlier this month that the deal between the NCAA and Michigan was off regarding Jim Harbaugh's suspension, it appears as though the Michigan athletic department will self-impose a three-game suspension to begin the 2023 season.

First reported by Josh Henschke of Maize and Blue Review, the suspension will occur during Michigan's first three non-conference games of the season. 

JUST IN: We are told that Jim Harbaugh has informed those inside Schembechler Hall that #Michigan is self-imposing a three-game suspension for Harbaugh effectively immediately https://t.co/pAjCvE0jbq

— Josh Henschke (@JoshHenschke) August 21, 2023

For weeks it appeared that Michigan and the NCAA had agreed upon a four-game suspension to begin the 2023 season, but a report Pete Thamel of ESPN suggested that the NCAA ultimately rejected the proposed deal. 

“The Michigan infractions case is related to impermissible on and off-campus recruiting during the COVID-19 dead period and impermissible coaching activities -- not a cheeseburger,” Derrick Crawford, the NCAA vice president of hearing operations, said in a statement, via Thamel. “It is not uncommon for the COI to seek clarification on key facts prior to accepting. The COI may also reject a negotiated resolution if it determines that the agreement is not in the best interests of the Association or the penalties are not reasonable. If the involved parties cannot resolve a case through the negotiated resolution process, it may proceed to a hearing, but the committee believes cooperation is the best avenue to quickly resolve issues.”