Report: Tony Petitti to meet with Michigan president Santa Ono on Friday

Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti is set to be on Michigan’s campus on Friday for the Big Ten field hockey tournament semifinals, according to The Athletic’s Nicole Auerbach. He’s also expected to meet with university president Santa Ono, as well.

Auerbach’s report came just hours after the details came out from Thursday’s meeting between Petitti and Big Ten athletic directors. According to Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger and Dan Wetzel, the ADs called for the conference to take action against Michigan in light of sign-stealing allegations and an investigation centered on analyst Connor Stalions.

Petitti participated in a similar meeting on Wednesday with conference head coaches on a call that initially included Jim Harbaugh. However, after they went through the regularly scheduled business, Harbaugh signed off to allow the others to discuss the situation freely, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported.

Both the coaches and athletic directors urged the Big Ten to step in regarding the NCAA’s investigation into Michigan. Stalions allegedly bought tickets to multiple conference games and possible College Football Playoff opponents as part of the scheme, and the investigation is now in its third week.

During Petitti’s meeting with the athletic directors, a possible suspension for Harbaugh was discussed. According to Yahoo Sports’ report, that was seen as the “cleanest” and most likely penalty if one comes down.

Petitti has the authority to punish Michigan because of the Big Ten’s sportsmanship cause, which is about the “integrity of competition” in the “competitive arena,” if the discipline is “standard” or “major.”

“Standard action includes a fine not exceeding $10,000 and a suspension of no more than two contests,” Dellenger and Wetzel wrote. “Major action is anything exceeding those penalties and is subject to approval from the Big Ten executive board of presidents.”

The next big question about the situation is how long the NCAA’s investigation will take. Three weeks ago, the NCAA opened an inquiry into the Wolverines, and ESPN later reported it centered on Stalions, who has been suspended with pay pending the results of the investigation. Michigan has yet to receive a Notice of Allegations from the NCAA.

According to Yahoo Sports’ report, Petitti said the NCAA is putting the sign-stealing inquiry on an “accelerated” path.

Michigan is in the midst of a dominant start to the season, taking an 8-0 record into Week 10 after the bye week. The Wolverines are also right in the thick of the College Football Playoff race, coming in at No. 3 in the first CFP rankings of the year.

But the question remains how the sign-stealing allegations will impact Michigan’s standing regarding the Playoff. Both executive director Bill Hancock and committee chairman Boo Corrigan said it’s an “NCAA issue, not a CFP issue” and said the committee will continue to look at what happens on the field when deciding the rankings.