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College football insider shares potential punishment for Jim Harbaugh in sign-stealing probe

Andrew Olson

By Andrew Olson

Published:

College football insider Pete Thamel reported Saturday that Jim Harbaugh could be suspended by the Big Ten in the coming weeks.

Thamel appeared on ESPN’s “College GameDay” live from Tuscaloosa, Alabama ahead of the Week 10 games. The senior writer for ESPN discussed Big Ten leadership’s recent discussions with other conference programs about the alleged sign-steal operation.

“The next steps appear that there will be some sort of punishment for Michigan,” Thamel said. “The most likely scenario here is some sort of suspension for Jim Harbaugh.”

It was noted on the broadcast that a Big Ten suspension would not have any impact on the NCAA’s investigation. Kirk Herbstreit weighed in that he is not expecting Harbaugh to be punished during the 2023 season.

Michigan is currently 8-0 overall and 5-0 in B1G play. The Wolverines face Purdue at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, a game airing on NBC. A suspension of Harbaugh could impact one of U-M’s biggest games of the season.

Michigan is on the road in Week 11 to face No. 11 Penn State. The Wolverines have another road contest in Week 12 at Maryland. U-M ends its 2023 regular-season with The Game. No. 1 Ohio State comes back to the Big House on Nov. 25, as Michigan looks to make it 3 in a row.

Andrew Olson

A former Florida beat reporter, Andrew writes for the Saturday Tradition News Desk.