Pete Thamel: Jim Harbaugh return to NFL makes it 'difficult' to predict Michigan discipline for NCAA cases

As Jim Harbaugh leaves Michigan for the NFL, he also leaves behind questions about multiple NCAA investigations, both of which he served suspensions for during the 2023 season. That included violations related to recruiting and the sign-stealing scandal.

During an appearance on SportsCenter, Pete Thamel explained that Harbaugh’s departure is going to make it difficult to predict how the NCAA chooses to discipline Michigan.

“Well, there are two ongoing investigations,” Pete Thamel said. “The first one had really targeted Jim Harbaugh for punishment, in part, because he misled NCAA investigators. Remember, there was that four game negotiated resolution that the NCAA did not end up agreeing with, which led everyone to speculate that Harbaugh would serve some kind of suspension if he was Michigan’s coach to start this year.”

The other ongoing investigation is the sign-stealing investigation, for which Jim Harbaugh was suspended by the Big Ten. However, as Thamel explained, he doesn’t believe the NCAA is going to punish players or try to punish Michigan with a postseason ban.

“Then, there’s obviously the Connor Stalions investigation to illicit sign-stealing in opposing venues. Without Harbaugh, being exposed to a Level 1 in that Stalions case because he’s obviously not there, it’s difficult to say what the NCAA is going to do,” Thamel said.

“I’m skeptical just with recent precedent that Michigan would get punished with some kind of postseason ban or the players who didn’t participate in any of this kind of stuff would get punished. Where that has NCAA land is always difficult to tell. NCAA investigations tend to change week to week.”

There still could be some kind of punishment coming to Michigan for these issues. However, when Jim Harbaugh was there it was easier to predict he’d be the one punished in some way. With him in the NFL, there is no longer an obvious figure to punish within the program.

Adam Schefter reveals two biggest factors leading to Jim Harbaugh taking Chargers job

There were several factors that led to Jim Harbaugh leaving Michigan for the NFL. However, NFL insider Adam Schefter said that the two biggest were money and the chance to win a Super Bowl.

“No. 1, the NFL was going to be able to offer more money. No. 2, the NFL could offer the chance to compete and try to win a Super Bowl, which Michigan couldn’t. So those two factors alone made it so Jim, I believe, was destined to leave Michigan at this time,” Schefter said.

“Michigan had an offer on the table to make Jim the highest-paid coach in college football. It was out there, and he could’ve taken it at any point in time. But the more it’s sitting out there and the more he’s not taking it, the more you realize that’s just not going to happen. He’s just not going to go back to school. His work there is done. It’s time for him to go back to the NFL. And it’s really a whole slew of factors.”