Michigan must resolve NCAA violation ahead of potential national championship run

Michigan, on paper, has one of its best teams in recent memory heading into 2023. And one of the best teams in all of college football ahead of the year.

With that in mind, The Wolverine’s Chris Balas and On3’s Andy Staples think it would behoove Michigan and head coach Jim Harbaugh to get the roiling waters of an NCAA infractions case under the bridge prior to the 2023. Otherwise, Michigan runs the risk of having a potentially magical season undone after the fact

“How much of this from Michigan’s standpoint, not necessarily the Harbaugh side of it but the Michigan administration side of it, is ‘Let’s get this taken care of in case this is a team that can win a national title?'” Staples said.

Balas thinks that’s pretty much right on the mark for where the Michigan administration stands.

“Yeah, I spoke to somebody about this a couple weeks ago close to it and they said, ‘We think it will resolve itself.’ This week they were like, ‘We can’t comment.’ So we knew it was getting closer to a resolution. But I think, for the most part, Michigan doesn’t like to be embarrassed. Even about something as stupid as this. And if they can put it behind them as quickly as possible and say ‘we apologize’ and if we’re going to take one, then we’re going to take it. So, I think you’re absolutely right that that is probably the desired resolution here,” Balas said.

The situation, however, does involve Harbaugh’s own desires in the matter. So far, the coach has not been contrite in the matter, pushing back on the notion of wrongdoing.

“And again, it comes down to what Jim Harbaugh wants, too, and his conversations with them,” Balas said.

Balas is also fascinated by the seeming turn from the Michigan administration, which initially had been rather gung ho about fighting the allegations.

Now, they’re mum.

“The whole thing is interesting to me because, initially, when we talked to people close to Michigan, they said they were going to fight this tooth and nail and it’s ridiculous and everything else, and now it sounds like Michigan is like, ‘Well, we’re going to roll over and we’re going to take our lumps,'” Balas said.

And despite the protestations of Harbaugh and perhaps others, backing down now and letting a punishment run its course could be the better part of valor for Michigan.

“And it seems to me, I was speaking to a lawyer about this, ‘Do you wanna just take your lumps and put this thing behind you and move forward? Or do you want to drag it on and maybe have a special season and then have to revisit this? Maybe adjust things if you win a championship and vacate games or something like that?'” Balas said. “If I’m Michigan, I’m saying, hey, I approach Jim Harbaugh and I say ‘Let’s just get this over with.'”