NCAA's remarks indicate it wants to drop the hammer on Jim Harbaugh

In the span of roughly three weeks, Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh has gone from being suspended for the first four games of the 2023 season to not facing any suspension at all.

But the statement the NCAA issued after rescinding Harbaugh’s initial punishment seems to indicate that a far harsher punishment could be heading the 59-year-old coach’s way.

“The Michigan infractions case is related to impermissible on and off-campus recruiting during the COVID-19 dead period and impermissible coaching activities — not a cheeseburger,” NCAA vice president, hearing operations Derrick Crawford said in a statement. “…The [Committee of Infractions] may also reject an [negotiated resolution] if it determines that the agreement is not in the best interests of the Association or the penalties are not reasonable.”

Instead of the previously agreed to four-game suspension, Harbaugh is now free to coach in every game of the 2023 season while his case goes through the gamut of the NCAA disciplinary system with final sanctions not expected to come until 2024, at which time Harbaugh might not even be coaching in the college ranks. 

While both Harbaugh and the University of Michigan declined to comment on the matter, citing the ongoing nature of the situation, the NCAA’s comments perceivably broke two of its own bylaws which states the organization is supposed to serve as a fair arbitrator of its agreed up rules, per Dan Wetzel of Yahoo Sports — a seemingly big risk to take unless the NCAA already knew it was going to come down hard on Harbaugh for making them look foolish for bullying one of college football’s top head coaches over “a cheeseburger.”