Big Ten Suspends Jim Harbaugh, Who Won't Coach at Penn State

The Michigan coach will not be on the sideline when the Wolverines play Penn State on Saturday.

The Big Ten suspended Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh from coaching games for the remainder of the regular season, meaning Harbaugh might not lead the Wolverines against Penn State on Saturday at Beaver Stadium. The Big Ten announced the decision Friday, less than 24 hours before Michigan visits Penn State for a top-10 matchup that will play a huge role in the Big Ten title chase.

The Big Ten said Michigan violated the conference's sportsmanship policy for "conducting an impermissible, in-person scouting operation over multiple years, resulting in an unfair competitive advantage that compromised the integrity of competition." Harbaugh will be permitted attend practice but "shall not be present at the game venue" for the remainder of the regular season.

In a news release announcing the decision, the Big Ten cited Conference Agreement 10.01, which states in part, "The Big Ten Conference expects all contests involving a member institution to be conducted without compromise to any fundamental element of sportsmanship. Such fundamental elements include integrity of the competition, civility toward all, and respect, particularly toward opponents and officials.”

Michigan was en route to State College when the Big Ten announced its decision. The Big Ten did not mention Harbaugh by name in its release, saying only that Michigan must "compete without its Head Football Coach" for the remainder of the regular season. The release did not address a potential Big Ten championship game or postseason and cited no other disciplinary action beyond Harbaugh's suspension.

Michigan responded with a statement saying it will seek a court order "preventing this disciplinary action from taking effect."

Penn State coach James Franklin this week did not address the allegations directly, saying, "I’m focused on all the stuff I see on film."

"That’s what we’re focused on, is all the stuff that we see on film, their players, their scheme," Franklin said at his weekly press conference. "When I say all the stuff we see on film, that we see on the coaches’ copy of the film, the stuff that’s going on between the sidelines, the 53-and-a-third [yards comprising a field's width]. That's what we're focused on."

Franklin said earlier this season that Penn State "made some changes" to its offensive and defensive signals during the October bye week, which occurred before the Nittany Lions' game against UMass. ESPN quoted an anonymous person saying that former Michigan staffer Connor Stalions had paid him to attend that game and film it from the stands. Stalions released a statement last weekend saying that he had resigned from his position and that neither Harbaugh nor his coaching staff was "aware of improper conduct regarding the recent allegations of advanced scouting," The Athletic reported.

Asked Monday whether the allegations have prompted his staff to spend more time on protecting its signs, Franklin said, "I know these questions are going to come this week. I’m going to focus on the things that we can control. We always have to have a plan, and I already think I’ve kind of covered this and talked about this in terms of what we do and how we communicate to our players and how we communicate to our team during games. But I’m going to leave it at that because less is more."

Mike Golic Jr., a former Notre Dame lineman and college football analyst, said the Wolverines likely would use public response to the allegations as motivation for Saturday's game at Penn State. 

"The easiest thing in the world for Jim Harbaugh and this coaching staff to be able to chirp guys with all week is, 'They think you're only good because they think you have their signs. That's what they think of you. And so what an opportunity for you to go out and try and prove them wrong in that regard,'" Golic said in an interview.

Golic added that he didn't think that the allegations would have any tangible effect on the game.

"As the actual stuff on the field, Penn State will be doing what it should have been doing anyway, which most teams should be doing anyway: change your signs up during the week," Golic said. "Make sure you've got other stuff, make sure you've got the dummy stuff in there. And I get in college where you're limited by rule with how much time you can work with these players that that's now bandwidth you've got to afford to that. But you're going in eyes wide open fully aware, even if you weren't already before, that this has to be part of your preparation."

Franklin addressed that topic generally on this week's edition of the Penn State Coaches Show.

"The challenge I think for a lot of coaches, specifically in this league, is, are you going to change all of your calls now at this point in the season?" Franklin asked. "It sounds like it’s not a big deal. We have over 700 signals on offense, so when you change those signals, it’s not just changing the signals. Now what if the kid makes a mistake out there on the field? Now you have three or four missed assignments in a game that’s probably going to be a one-possession game. That could be the difference."

More on Penn State

Penn State Football on SI.com

Penn State vs. Michigan preview, predictions

This is the most important game at Beaver Stadium since...?

18 (other) things to know about the Michigan Wolverines

Scouting Penn State's path to victory against Michigan

James Franklin addresses Michigan allegations, Jim Harbaugh's status

Nittany Lions "hopeful" for Chop Robinson's return against Michigan

AllPennState is the place for Penn State news, opinion and perspective on the SI.com network. Publisher Mark Wogenrich has covered Penn State for more than 20 years, tracking three coaching staffs, three Big Ten titles and a catalog of great stories. Follow him on Twitter @MarkWogenrich. And consider subscribing (button's on the home page) for more great content across the SI.com network.