Having captured the third straight Big Ten Title, many are wondering if Jim Harbaugh, who has a contract expiring after the season, will stay in Ann Arbor. While an extension would have been signed had sign-gate not happened, things are still trending positively according to John U. Bacon:
Long-awaited Harbaugh contract update.
After two UM officials told me in early October it would be done by the end of October, "Signgate" kicked up, Partridge was dismissed, and the process stalled.— John U. Bacon (@Johnubacon) December 6, 2023
Bacon is noting that Jim Stapleton, who made headlines earlier about reportedly being the one that shared Michigan’s sign stealing to the NCAA (where is on the NCAA’s Committee of infraction), could still be looking to get rid of Harbaugh in Ann Arbor while regents and President Ono are not:
Now I've been told: "Breakthroughs in the last couple days. Things trending very positively."
Of course, we have heard that before. We know President Ono and the Regents want it done, Jim Stapleton doesn't, and the athletic department has dragged its feet. We'll see what happens— John U. Bacon (@Johnubacon) December 6, 2023
We’ll see how it all unfolds but I’m sure Michigan is looking to get something complete before the early signing period window in a few weeks.
What the NCAA investigation will show, and how NCAA and UM will respond, are wildcards. If UM broke rules, it will pay. But we do know Harbaugh has won 3 straight B1G titles, with a perfect 1,000 on the Academic Progress Report. Every player graduates, though no one reports that. https://t.co/WXCcYOWx1D
— John U. Bacon (@Johnubacon) December 6, 2023