Michigan will officially be playing Penn State without its head coach, Jim Harbaugh.
The Big Ten announced Saturday that it had suspended Harbaugh for Michigan’s last three regular-season games due to Michigan being investigated for alleged illegal sign-stealing.
Unsurprisingly, Harbaugh is fighting this, and to do so, he had a temporary restraining order filed on his behalf.
Had a judge ruled in Michigan’s favor in time, Harbaugh would have been able to coach at Penn State. But ESPN’s Pete Thamel and multiple others reported that, per a person familiar with the court findings, Harbaugh’s hearing won’t be until next Friday at 9 a.m., the day before Michigan plays at Maryland.
There will not be a ruling today in Jim Harbaugh's request for a temporary restraining order, according to a person familiar with the court filings. This means Jim Harbaugh will not coach at Penn State today.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) November 11, 2023
Jim Harbaugh is missing a huge game for both teams. Michigan’s undefeated and ranked No. 3. Penn State’s 8-1 and ranked No. 10. Penn State needs to win to have any chance at winning the Big Ten and making the College Football Playoff. Michigan would greatly help its chances, too, with a win.
It wasn’t clear until a little more than an hour before the game what Harbaugh’s status would be. Nittany Sports Now was there to film Michigan’s arrival into Beaver Stadium, and there was no sign of Harbaugh. It was reported in Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff pregame show that Harbaugh was likely t
This, of course, is all related to Michigan’s alleged sign-stealing, which its currently under investigation for. The alleged ringleader of the operation, Connor Stailons, resigned last week.
Kickoff is scheduled for noon on Fox. This is quite possibly the most hyped game of the College Football Season. Penn State needs to win to keep its Big Ten and national title hopes alive.
