JUST NOW: Michigan is accused of stealing other teams’ signs.

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.

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.