Big Ten Statement On Michigan Football Dropping Legal Challenge

On Thursday afternoon, Michigan football and Jim Harbaugh announced that they have ended their legal battle with the Big Ten Conference — one which was likely headed to the courtroom on Friday, with U-M gunning for a TRO in hopes of allowing Jim Harbaugh to re-join his staff on the sideline this weekend. With games against Maryland and Ohio State fast-approaching, here is today’s Big Ten statement on the University of Michigan accepting the conference’s penalty.

‼️ BREAKING: Michigan football and Jim Harbaugh accept his 3-game suspension from the Big Ten. Harbaugh will NOT coach against Maryland or Ohio State. #GoBlue

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— Blue By 90 (@bluebyninety) November 16, 2023

What happened with Michigan football and Jim Harbaugh on Thursday?

Last Friday, hours before Michigan football faced Penn State in Happy Valley, the Big Ten Conference suspended Jim Harbaugh from the sidelines — a move that had the entire Univeristy of Michigan community, school leadership, and more quite upset with the conference given the nature of how Tony Petitti went about everything.

With a TRO hearing coming up on Friday, which Michigan football hoped would be granted and allow Jim Harbaugh to coach against Maryland and Ohio State this fall, the school seemed to randomly back down on Thursday afternoon, dropping the legal battle and accepting the Big Ten suspension of three games. It is worth noting that the conference admitted today that it still has no evidence tying Harbaugh to the sign-stealing scandal.

Big Ten statement on U-M dropping legal battle against the conference

Below is today’s Big Ten statement on Michigan football accepting a three-game sideline suspension for Jim Harbaugh.

“The Big Ten Conference’s commitment to student-athletes, sportsmanship, and the commissioner’s duty to protect the integrity of competition will never waver. Today’s decision by the University of Michigan to withdraw its legal challenge against the conference’s November 10th notice of disciplinary action is indicative of the high standards and values that the conference and the university seek to uphold. The University of Michigan is a valued member of the Big Ten Conference, and the conference will continue to work cooperatively with the university and the NCAA during this process.”

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