Despite NCAA sanctions, Michigan will honor Jim Harbaugh at 2024 home opener

Michigan is undeterred by the sanctions the NCAA imposed on Jim Harbaugh this week.

Athletic director Warde Manuel told the 1 Star Recruits podcast this week that Harbaugh would be an honorary captain for the school’s home game against Fresno State. Harbaugh will be officially honored by Michigan less than a month after the NCAA handed him a one-year suspension and a four-year show-cause penalty for failing to cooperate with an investigation into recruiting violations.

From MLive:

The punishments are, of course, somewhat irrelevant at this point. Harbaugh is the coach of the Los Angeles Chargers. He took the job in January after leading Michigan to a 15-0 season and a national championship. It was the Wolverines’ first title in the College Football Playoff or BCS era, and the school’s first since a shared national title in 1997.

The success of the season is clear why Michigan wants Harbaugh back. And he has the weekend off, since the NFL season starts a week later than college football. It’s also the first home opener Harbaugh has attended in two seasons. He was unable to attend last season’s home opener due to a three-game suspension Michigan imposed on itself as part of its recruiting investigation.

The NCAA ruled that Harbaugh lied to investigators about meetings with recruits during the COVID-19 dead period. The governing body and Michigan worked to secure a four-game suspension for Harbaugh to begin the 2023 season as part of that investigation, but the deal fell apart before Michigan imposed the three-game suspension on itself. Harbaugh was then suspended by the Big Ten for the final three games of the regular season in connection with the Connor Stalions scouting scandal.

The game will be the first for Michigan coach Sherrone Moore as the team’s permanent head coach. He served as interim coach at various points during Harbaugh’s 2023 suspensions and was promoted from offensive coordinator after Harbaugh left for the Chargers. Moore also could face an NCAA suspension at some point. According to a draft notice of charges obtained by the NCAA, Moore could be disciplined by the governing body as part of its sanctions over the Stalions scandal.