The football program at the University of Michigan, one of the favorites to win the national title, has become caught
in an alleged sign-stealing scam that involves illegal, in-person scouting of opponents dating back three seasons.
Both the NCAA and the Big Ten Conference, of which Michigan is a member, have been investigating the claims for
at least three weeks, as the second-ranked Wolverines (9-0) continue their season. Coach Jim Harbaugh has denied
knowledge of any illegal scouting schemes in his program.
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The NCAA inquiry is likely to take several weeks, if not months. Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti, who has been in
the job for about six months after a career in Major League Baseball and television, decided to take more immediate
action by prohibiting Harbaugh from coaching the team’s final three regular-season games, including Saturday’s
game at No. 9 Penn State.
Michigan, which had previously stated that it would contest any sanctions, sought a court order late Friday.
Harbaugh served a three-game ban issued by the university earlier this season for an unrelated and unresolved
NCAA recruiting violations case; his team won all three.
