Big Ten bans Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh over alleged sign-stealing scheme

Jim Harbaugh has been banned from Michigan's three remaining regular-season games by the Big Ten for a sign-stealing scheme that has rocked college football.

Harbaugh was disciplined Friday by the conference less than 24 hours before the Wolverines play No. 9 Penn State on the road in their toughest matchup of the season so far.

His team has a shot to win a third straight Big Ten title and the school's first national championship since 1997.

Michigan could seek a court order from a judge that would pause punishment.

The Big Ten's decision will not mean an end to the ongoing NCAA investigation regarding allegations of off-campus scouting and signal stealing by former Michigan staffer Connor Stalions.

The decision to punish Michigan was announced in a release on the Big Ten's website.

The Big Ten Conference announced today that the University of Michigan has been found in violation of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Policy for conducting an impermissible, in-person scouting operation over multiple years, resulting in an unfair competitive advantage that compromised the integrity of competition.

Big Ten Conference Agreement 10.01 states in part that “The Big Ten Conference expects all contests involving a member institution to be conducted without compromise to any fundamental element of sportsmanship. Such fundamental elements include integrity of the competition, civility toward all, and respect, particularly toward opponents and officials.”

As a penalty imposed on the institution, the University football team must compete without its Head Football Coach for the games remaining in the 2023 regular-season, effective immediately. This disciplinary action shall not preclude the University or its football team from having its Head Football Coach attend practices or other football team activities other than the game activities to which it applies. For clarity, the Head Football Coach shall not be present at the game venue on the dates of the games to which this disciplinary action applies. 

With files from the Associated Press