The Big Ten is reportedly preparing to issue a notice of disciplinary action against the Michigan football program and head coach Jim Harbaugh on Friday afternoon, according to information obtained by ESPN college football insider Heather Dinich.
Dinich, who appeared on ESPN’s “Get Up” early this morning, said that the decision to punish Harbaugh and the Wolverines could come before, or even during, the team’s flight to State College, Pa. for their game against the Nittany Lions on Saturday, which is set to take off at 1 p.m. eastern time.
“Sources indicate that the Big Ten will give Michigan a response early this afternoon,” Dinich said this morning on “Get Up.” “The timing is interesting because Michigan leaves at 1 p.m., they will fly mid-afternoon out of Detroit…Last night, Michigan sources indicated to me and my colleague Adam Rittenberg that they had not had any communication with the Big Ten. And also, there still has not been any evidence presented to Michigan that Jim Harbaugh knew about any of this, orchestrated any of this, or lied about it.”
When asked about the extent of the punishment, Dinich said the Big Ten is considering a wide mix of possibilities ranging from an indefinite or two-year suspension to a public reprimand or lofty fine. Dinich also did not rule out the possibility of the Big Ten suspending Harbaugh for the final three games of the regular season, which would include the Wolverines’ game against Penn State tomorrow, their matchup with Maryland on Nov. 18 and their regular season finale against Ohio State on Nov. 25.
“The Big Ten, we have learned, has considered the gamut of punishments,” Dinich said. “Back this weekend, they were thinking about an indefinite suspension, a two-year suspension, something as simple as a public reprimand, something as lofty as a $1 million fine. Now, we’re hearing this morning it could be a three-game suspension, which obviously would be significant and it could start this weekend.”
While an immediate three-game suspension is on the table, Harbaugh’s attorney, Tom Mars, told ESPN this morning that the Wolverines leader is still expected to fly with the team to Penn State.
“I’m confident he’s going to be on that plane one way or another,” Mars told ESPN.
