Paul Finebaum raises concerns about NCAA investigation into Michigan: 'I sense there's some piling on Jim Harbaugh'

Paul Finebaum is raising some fascinating concern regarding the NCAA’s investigation into Michigan and Jim Harbaugh for alleged sign-stealing.

Thursday morning, the Big Ten announced that the NCAA had launched an investigation into the Michigan football over allegations of sign stealing. The rule in question pertains to scouting future opponents in person, with the rule stipulating “off-campus, in-person scouting of future opponents (in the same season) is prohibited.”

According to Yahoo! Sports, the NCAA notified the Big Ten Conference that it was conducting an investigation into Michigan’s actions.

On Friday, the SEC Network analyst, who has been openly critical of Harbaugh in the past, stated his belief that the NCAA may be singling out the Michigan leader, and that’s at the center of this investigation.

“I think, on surface, it is a bad look for Jim Harbaugh, but in understanding the NCAA and it’s enforcement division right now, it’s hard for me to imagine that they’ll be able to make a solid case,” Finebaum delineated, via Get Up. “It does look bad. There’s been allegations out there in the past, but it does seem like it would be a close call by the NCAA, and I sense that there’s some piling on here, to Jim Harbaugh. He turned his nose to them a couple of months ago, as you remember, during its investigation, and it seems to me like selective prosecution. That doesn’t mean that some of this didn’t happen. I frankly think that this happens everywhere. Not to the degree that the story is laid out here, but there’s some very grey area.

“I think if this had been someone else, this investigation probably wouldn’t have gotten to this point.”

Finebaum is alluding to Harbaugh reaction to the NCAA violation that resulted in his three-game suspension to begin the season. The charismatic Michigan leader has never been one to simply conform, and the NCAA doesn’t take kindly to that.

Regardless, the aforementioned Harbaugh denied knowledge about that occurring and said he can’t comment about the situation, per NCAA rules.

“I want to make it clear that I, and my staff, will fully cooperate with the investigation into this matter,” Harbaugh said. “I do not have any knowledge or information regarding the University of Michigan football program illegally stealing signals, nor have I directed any staff member or others to participate in an off-campus scouting assignment. I have no awareness of anyone on our staff having done that or having directed that action. I do not condone or tolerate anyone doing anything illegal or against NCAA rules.

“No matter what program or organization that I have led throughout my career, my instructions and awareness of how we scout opponents have always been firmly within the rules. Pursuant to NCAA rules, I will not be able to comment further while this investigation takes place.”

Moving forward, it’ll be interesting to see what becomes of Jim Harbaugh and Michigan’s potential punishment, and it’s evident Paul Finebaum is keeping a watchful eye on what transpires.