Big Ten bans Jim Harbaugh from Michigan sidelines for regular season

Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh will be allowed to coach at practice -- but not during games -- for the rest of the regular season as punishment for the program's in-person scouting, the Big Ten Conference announced Friday.

That means Harbaugh won't be on the sidelines during the No. 3 Wolverines' two biggest games of the season: Saturday at No. 10 Penn State and Nov. 25 against No. 1 Ohio State.

Both games could have implications on which Big Ten team is in contention for a berth in the College Football Playoff.

The Big Ten, in a news release, said Michigan "has been found in violation of the Big Ten Sportsmanship Policy for conducting an impermissible, in-person scouting operation over multiple years, resulting in an unfair competitive advantage that compromised the integrity of competition."

Under the conference ruling, Harbaugh may attend practices and other football team activities, but he may not be present at the games.

Michigan (9-0) also plays Nov. 18 at Maryland.