ESPN insider: Big Ten weighing 'gamut' of discipline for Michigan, Jim Harbaugh, including 'indefinite suspension'

Earlier this week, the Big Ten sent Michigan a notice of disciplinary action. Since then, the school responded to that notice with a 10-page response to the included “numerous objections” to the conference punishing the program at this point.

Still, punishment is expected shortly for either Michigan, head coach Jim Harbaugh, or both. College football reported Heather Dinich, while making an appearance on Get Up, explained the wide ranging possibility for a punishment.

“I’ve learned that people should not assume that Jim Harbaugh is going to be suspended, though that is certainly a consideration,” Dinich said. “The Big Ten has run a gamut of possibilities, starting with a possible indefinite suspension, a two-year suspension, all the way to something as simple as a public reprimand. The other thing that you could possibly see is a fine of $1 million dollars or more, which would probably be rubberstamped, so stay tuned.”

The Big Ten is expected to punish Harbaugh under the conference’s sportsmanship policy. It has been reported that with executive board approval, a suspension could be longer than two games under that policy. However, it would need that approval.

It has also been reported by Dinich that the Big Ten has not started its own investigation into the Michigan program. However, the conference does believe it has the evidence needed to move forward.

“Now, there are two separate things going on here. One, the NCAA is doing its own investigation. My understanding is that the Big Ten has not initiated its own investigation. It’s relying on information it has gathered from the NCAA, in part, and following other reports that have come out,” Dinich said.

“But the sense is that the Big Ten has enough information to prove Michigan broke its sportsmanship policy by illegally stealing signs. My sources are telling me that no evidence has come through yet that shows Jim Harbaugh knew about this or orchestrated it.”

Michigan legislators send bipartisan letter to Big Ten’s Tony Petitti asking for due process

Ahead of the Big Ten announcing a punishment for the Michigan program, a group of bipartisan legislators in Michigan sent a letter to conference commissioner Tony Petitti, asking for due process.

“It is essential that the Big Ten Conference not take any disciplinary action against the University of Michigan until the final results of its own or, more appropriately, the NCAA investigation are officially announced. Should those results demonstrate misconduct, an appropriate punishment should be imposed. In the meantime, the players and coaches should be free to continue to participate in the game that they love without being punished with premature or unsubstantiated sanctions,” the letter read in part.

Phil Skaggs and Graham Filler led the push for this letter. The other Michigan congresspeople to sign on were representatives Donovan McKinney, Carrie Rheingans, Jennifer A. Conlin, Jason Morgan, Felicia Brabec, Jimmie Wilson Jr., Alabas Farhat, and senators Sue Shink and John Cherry