What did Jim Harbaugh do? Explaining Michigan coach's 3-game suspension and sign-stealing in football

The Big Ten's initial ruling on Michigan's sign-stealing scandal is in: Jim Harbaugh is out for three games, for now.

Michigan has spent the past three weeks embroiled in a scandal involving alleged advance scouting in an effort to steal signs, that has reportedly been going on for the past three years. The name at the center of the scandal was Connor Stalions, who was suspended and later fired for his role in the sign stealing.

There was plenty of uncertainty about what would happen not only to Michigan, but to Harbaugh as part of this investigation. The Big Ten was widely expected to hand out discipline to Michigan before the conclusion of the NCAA's investigation following reported frustrations among other Big Ten coaches and administrators.

MORE: What to know about Big Ten's ban of Michigan coach over in-person scouting

On Friday, as Michigan and Harbaugh were in a plane on their way to State College for a top-10 showdown with Penn State, the Big Ten's ruling came in, handing Harbaugh a suspension that will keep him off the sidelines for the final three games of Michigan's regular-season slate. He will still be allowed to coach at practices during the week.

The decision is pending Michigan's court filing seeking an injunction that would allow Harbaugh to coach against Penn State.

The suspension is significant, as all of Michigan's biggest challenges will come over the last three games of the season, starting with the clash with Penn State. Michigan will then hit the road to face Maryland then return home to host No. 1 Ohio State.

Why is Harbaugh facing this three-game suspension? Here's what you need to know.

Why is Jim Harbaugh suspended?

The question on everyone's mind throughout this whole process has been about Harbaugh's involvement. To date, there had been no public reports that Harbaugh had signed off on or had any knowledge of Stalions' sign-stealing plot, which involved the purchase of tickets for games featuring future opponents with people going out and taping opposing sidelines in an effort to steal signs before games.

In the Big Ten's letter to Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel announcing the suspension, the Big Ten has given at least something of an answer to what Harbaugh did to deserve this punishment: nothing.

"We impose this disciplinary action even though the Conference has not yet received any information indicating that Head Football Coach Harbaugh was aware of the impermissible nature of the sign-stealing scheme," the Big Ten wrote.

The Big Ten added that the punishment is not a sanction of Harbaugh, but rather is using him as the symbolic punishment of Michigan. The conference said it wanted to continue to allow the student-athletes to compete, and that by suspending Harbaugh it "recognizes that the Head Coach embodies the University for purposes of its football program."

Harbaugh has previously said in a statement that he was not aware of Michigan's sign-stealing scandal, a sentiment shared by Stalions, who said to his knowledge, Harbaugh was unaware of the scheme.

MORE ON MICHIGAN SIGN-STEALING:

• A timeline of Jim Harbaugh's controversies
• What suspension means for Michigan's CFP chances
• Inside Jim Harbaugh's coaching history at Michigan

What is sign stealing in football?

Part of what makes college football different than the NFL is its traditions. At least one of its traditions is a bit archaic, and that would be how it conveys plays.

College football teams hold up large signs to signal the plays to offensive and defensive players. In the NFL, the plays are called in through radio installed in helmets, which means it is impossible to steal signs.

Stealing signs is not entirely illegal. Teams can look across the field and see what signs are being held up, take notes and start to line up the signs to the plays.

Here’s the evidence Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti has seen and laid out for Michigan in his correspondence today: pic.twitter.com/0zaG9RBdkL

— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) November 10, 2023

What is illegal is advanced scouting, which is what Michigan is alleged to have done. The Big Ten said in its letter the NCAA has found credible evidence that points to people going to games of future Michigan opponents and using video to record the signs of those teams and use them against them later in the season.

Teams are not allowed to send scouts ahead to teams and steal signs in that way. The only ways teams can legally steal signs is if they are able to pick them up on all-22 film provided to teams before games or if they do it during their own game — without using electronic devices.

Michigan football schedule 2023

Barring action by the court to put Harbaugh's suspension on hold, he is currently in line to miss the final three games of the regular season and return in time for the Big Ten championship.

Here is how the rest of Michigan's schedule is shaping up: