On Thursday, the Big Ten acknowledged an NCAA investigation is underway into Michigan football.
Rivals allege Michigan had a "vast network" of employees or individuals friendly to the program perform in-person scouting of future opponents. In-person scouting has been barred from the NCAA rule book since 1994.
It's believed the scouts were there to track opponents' signals on offense and defense; it's not known at this time whether or not video or other electronic devices were used to monitor the signals.
It's also not known whether or not Jim Harbaugh directed, or even knew about, the alleged scouting.
On Thursday afternoon, Harbaugh's attorney Tom Mars released this statement, via Yahoo's Dan Wetzel:
“I’ve spoken to Coach Harbaugh about what we’ve read in the sports news and if NCAA rules allowed him to make a public statement I am sure he would deny having any knowledge of what was reported.”
Thursday's news is interesting with respect to Harbaugh on three fronts.
1) Harbaugh is also under investigation by the NCAA for violating the COVID dead period by meeting in-person with recruits. Harbaugh took a self-imposed 3-game suspension to begin this season, but it remains to be seen if the NCAA views that as sufficient. Michigan initially offered a 4-game suspension, but the NCAA rejected that. That case is expected to be resolved early next year. If the NCAA comes down strongly on Harbaugh on that case, and finds Harbaugh knew of or directed the actions for which Michigan is now accused of, that could potentially complicate his future employment at Michigan.
2) Michigan is currently working on making Harbaugh the highest-paid coach in the Big Ten. "At the University of Michigan, all of us are committed to the highest standards of ethics and integrity for all members of our community," Michigan AD Warde Manuel said Thursday. "This is the same expectation I have of all coaches, staff, and student-athletes."
If Thursday's news balloons into the college football version of Spygate, it could affect how much Michigan is willing to invest further in Harbaugh. (Of course, it should be noted actual Spygate did not force Bill Belichick out of New England.)
3) There is the possibility that Points 1 and 2 combine to force Michigan out of college football on his own terms.
Harbaugh has said nearly every one of Michigan's starters could be drafted after this season. With possibly the best team he'll have in his time in Ann Arbor, a mass exodus looming and now two NCAA investigations circling around Schmbechler Hall, it's possible Harbaugh could decide to fully pursue an NFL job this January.
There's much more we don't know in regards to Thursday's news than what we do know.
Stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest as this story develops.