The Michigan Wolverines and head coach Jim Harbaugh are under investigation once again.
Just weeks after Harbaugh returned to the Wolverines after a self-imposed three-game suspension, the NCAA announced on Thursday that the program is being investigated for in-person scouting and sign stealing.
It is worth noting that sign stealing is not against NCAA rules while in-person scouting is against the rules as stated in NCAA Bylaw 11.6.1. The rule states; “Off-Campus, In-Person Scouting Prohibition. Off-campus, in-person scouting of future opponents (in the same season) is prohibited.”
Ross Dellenger and Dan Wetzel of Yahoo Sports were the first to report the investigation.
For Michigan, this is the second investigation undertaken by the NCAA regarding the football program. The program is also being investigated for multiple Level II alleged violations of Jim Harbaugh having in-person meetings with recruits during the COVID-19 dead period among several other allegations. Harbaugh was also caught lying to the NCAA in that original investigation, a Level I violation. It was after that Level I violation in which Michigan and Harbaugh self-imposed a three-game suspension.
On Thursday afternoon, the Big Ten confirmed the investigation.
“Late Wednesday afternoon, the Big Ten Conference and the University of Michigan were notified by the NCAA that the NCAA was investigating allegations of sign stealing by the University of Michigan football program,” a press release from the conference said. “The Big Ten Conference has notified Michigan State University and future opponents. The Big Ten Conference considers the integrity of competition to be of utmost importance and will continue to monitor the investigation. The Conference will have no further comment at this time.”
The Michigan Wolverines are currently 7-0 on the season and are ranked as the No. 2 team in the country by both the US LBM Coaches Poll and AP Poll.