Jim Harbaugh suspension: Fans, media react to head coach’s absence from The Game

Jim Harbaugh is indeed going to finish the regular season with a suspension, Michigan confirmed on Thursday.

Despite previously setting up a Friday hearing to try and get a temporary restraining order against the B1G’s suspension, Michigan released a statement to say it has resolved litigation with the conference. As a result, Harbaugh will serve the original 3-game suspension and the B1G will close its investigation into Michigan.

After missing the Penn State game to begin the suspension, Harbaugh will also miss this week’s game against Maryland and next week’s matchup against Ohio State in “The Game.” The Wolverines are heavily favored against the Terrapins, but the showdown against Ohio State is a different story.

Harbaugh has gone 2-0 against the Buckeyes since the 2020 version of The Game was canceled due to COVID. This will also be the first version of The Game without Harbaugh on the sidelines since 2014, the final year of Brady Hoke’s tenure in Ann Arbor.

Here is how fans and media alike reacted to Harbaugh’s future absence:

Jim Harbaugh will officially miss “The Game”.

Ryan Day vs. Sherrone Moore 👀 pic.twitter.com/Ft9QWToeuN

— Saturday Tradition (@Tradition) November 16, 2023

Jim Harbaugh will not be on Michigan’s sideline for The Game. pic.twitter.com/CpzSPJvmaV

— Eleven Warriors (@11W) November 16, 2023

If Ohio State loses to Michigan for the third straight year and without Jim Harbaugh coaching the game, that program is beyond finished. You will see that fanbase in a meltdown like we’ve never seen before. Fans will demand the firing of Ryan Day.

Nov 25th cant some soon…

— Wolverine Corner (@WolverineCorner) November 16, 2023

Jim Harbaugh not being able to coach against Ohio State is going to be annoying because he doesn’t change the outcome of the game much by being on the sidelines.

Now the Wolverines have a built-in excuse if they lose The Game and a joke to make if Michigan beats the Buckeyes.

— Josh Poloha (@JorshP) November 16, 2023

Jim Harbaugh officially will not be on the sideline for The Game. https://t.co/actIdtfHE5

— Dan Hope (@Dan_Hope) November 16, 2023

1. No Jim Harbaugh for Ohio State-Michigan in Ann Arbor.

2. This is not Michigan not being able to play The Game in 2020.

3. It’s still not at all what either party wants.

4. Everybody — but everybody — wants Harbaugh on that sideline.

— RJ Young (@RJ_Young) November 16, 2023

Michigan fans can call Ryan Day “soft” all they want, but at least I know my coach has never ducked The Game.

Jim Harbaugh has ducked Ohio State twice. pic.twitter.com/ZoRsWWP8gY

— JR’s Rankings 🌰🅾️⭕️ (@jrs_rankings) November 16, 2023

Jim Harbaugh ran from The Game in 2020 without Connor Stalions and is again running in 2023. He fears the buckeyes 😭😭

— 👽 (@osubuckeyes14) November 16, 2023

Wins in their first The Game: Gary Moeller, Lloyd Carr, Jim Tressel, Brady Hoke, Urban Meyer, Ryan Day

Losses in their first The Game: John Cooper, Rich Rodriguez, Luke Fickell, Jim Harbaugh

Which group will Sherrone Moore join next Saturday?

— Matt Smith (@MattSmithCFB) November 16, 2023

This just in from University of Michigan: Jim Harbaugh and the Big Ten have “resolved their pending litigation” as Harbaugh and the school have accepted his three game suspension.

He will not be on the field coaching Saturday, at Maryland or the next week vs. Ohio State. pic.twitter.com/7RGqDdOkYp

— Tony Garcia | Detroit Free Press (@RealTonyGarcia) November 16, 2023

Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh accepts Big Ten’s 3-game suspension. Well we’ll wonder why??? Could be to ride the angry team wave or maybe something else? https://t.co/hUqrSfvE1r

— Jack (@Buckeye_Jack) November 16, 2023

Jim Harbaugh and Michigan wanted no part of Friday’s hearing after the Big 10 promised to present devastating NCAA evidence of serial cheating against every team on Michigan’s 2023 schedule.
Harbaugh will now be suspended for half the regular season for cheating.. https://t.co/fIuRBXoS90

— Alan Covington (@Alan_Covington) November 16, 2023

Paul Harvey

Paul is a lifelong fan and student of all things college football. He has been covering college football since 2017 and the B1G since 2018.