Michigan Wolverines football: Why Harbaugh’s suspension is good news

Today, it was reported that the Michigan Wolverines football program will be suspending 9th-year head coach Jim Harbaugh for three games of the 2023 season. This information is widely regarded as true but has yet to be confirmed by the school itself. On the surface, this may seem like a setback for the program. However, upon closer examination, we believe that it bodes well for Michigan in the long run, putting the current NFL rumors to bed and more.

Michigan Wolverines football will suspend Jim Harbaugh for 3 games, which may actually be good news for the program

First of all, let’s address the matter at hand: the suspension of Jim Harbaugh for three games in the upcoming year. In reality, this shouldn’t have a significant impact. The Wolverines are scheduled to play against East Carolina, Bowling Green, and UNLV during the first three weeks of the coming season. Harbaugh will be back in time to coach against Rutgers in Week 4 for the team’s Big Ten opener.

Now, with that detail clarified, let’s discuss why this situation is a positive sign for the Michigan Wolverines football program. Lately, there has been a lot of speculation about Jim Harbaugh’s potential return to the NFL after the 2023 season. While such rumors are not new in Ann Arbor and typically surface after a season concludes, this year, they emerged prematurely before the coming season even kicked off.

The catalyst for these NFL rumors was the postponement of Jim Harbaugh’s suspension. Many believed that Harbaugh would coach the upcoming season and then depart from the program to avoid NCAA penalties. However, Harbaugh’s willingness to accept a self-imposed suspension undermines these speculations and suggests that he plans on maintaining a long-term commitment to Ann Arbor. After all, if Harbaugh were planning on leaving next year regardless, why would he agree to any form of punishment for the 2023 season?

Furthermore, this turn of events could serve as a valuable negotiating point when the NCAA infractions committee convenes in 2024 to determine the consequences for Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan Wolverines football program. The university’s proactive response weakens the NCAA’s assertion that Harbaugh and Michigan are attempting to evade consequences, potentially leading to a less severe punishment in the future.

While the news of Michigan football suspending Jim Harbaugh has raised concerns among some, I see it as favorable for the program’s long-term prospects, especially since Harbaugh won’t be missing anything special during his three-game absence this year.