According to sources for Yahoo’s Ross Dellenger, the NCAA and Michigan head football coach Jim Harbaugh “are working toward a negotiated resolution that is expected to see him suspended four games this season [for] penalties stemming from alleged false statements he originally made to investigators.”
The agreement hasn’t been finalized yet and still needs approval from the NCAA Committee on Infractions. This process could a few weeks.
The Wolverines’ first four games are all at home vs. East Carolina, vs. UNLV, vs. Bowling Green and vs. Rutgers. They’re favored by 34 or 34.5 points vs. ECU at most books, while the total is 52.
The NCAA investigation is based on recruiting violations allegedly committed by Harbaugh and members of his staff. Investigators for the NCAA’s enforcement staff are alleging that Harbaugh was dishonest about the violations in his first meeting with them.
According to Dellenger, “a quick resolution broke down in January after Harbaugh refused to admit that he lied to NCAA staff.”
Former Michigan defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald, who now has the same gig on John Harbaugh’s staff for the Baltimore Ravens, is expected to be issued a one-year show-cause penalty.
Two other staff members, offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore and TEs coach Grant Newsome, are also expected to be penalized by the NCAA.
Lying to NCAA investigators is considered a Level I violation, the worst type that exists. That itself is worse than the crimes the NCAA was initially investigating, which were four Level II violations.
Again, per Dellenger, the alleged violations involved meeting with recruits during a COVID-19 dead period, texting a recruit outside of the allowable time frame, having coaches watch players work out via Zoom and allowing analysts to perform on-field coaching assignments during practice.
Fan Duel has Michigan’s season win total at 10.5 (‘over’ -148, ‘under’ +120). The Wolverines have +185 odds to win the Big Ten Championship Game for a third consecutive season. They have the second-shortest odds behind Ohio State, which is the +165 ‘chalk.’
Michigan finished the 2022 season with a 13-1 straight-up record and a 7-6-1 against-the-spread mark. The Wolverines, who lost 51-45 to TCU in the College Football Playoff semifinals, have eight starters back on offense and seven on defense.