Michigan’s NCAA infractions case projects a prolonged path to resolution after football coach Jim Harbaugh’s refusal during multiple meetings with the NCAA this week to acknowledge that he had lied to NCAA investigators.
During an attempt to expedite the case and achieve a “negotiated resolution,” Harbaugh refused to acknowledge that he had lied to NCAA investigators. He has maintained that he doesn’t remember the incident in question, which has led to a standstill in the case.
An admission that Harbaugh had lied likely would have led to him accepting a multiple-game suspension, as he faces a potential Level I NCAA violation. The initial investigation into Michigan included four Level II recruiting violations, which are less significant in scope and punishment. But the potential Level I was added as part of a more serious charge for not cooperating with the NCAA enforcement staff.
This presents an interesting standoff between Harbaugh and the NCAA, one that could potentially drag out for nearly a year, per the typical NCAA enforcement and appeals timeline. For now, there appears to be little chance for a negotiated resolution.
This means Michigan faces the belabored proceedings of an NCAA case, with the specter of Harbaugh’s expected multigame suspension likely looming over the start of the 2024 season. There’s little chance that NCAA enforcement can execute the case before the start of the 2023 season.