Michigan's Jim Harbaugh expected to be suspended to start 2023 football season

The NCAA says Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh lied to investigators.

And it appears that will cost him one-third of the 2023 regular season.

A source close to the situation confirmed to the Free Press on Tuesday that Harbaugh and the NCAA are nearing an agreement that would result in his four-game suspension for the 2023 season as discipline for what have been deemed false statements he made during an investigation, a Level I violation.

Yahoo! Sports reporter Ross Dellenger was first to report the suspension, which has yet to be approved by the NCAA Committee on Infractions. A source told the Free Press that Michigan has sent its request for a "negotiated resolution" to the committee, which would have 30 days to accept, reject or change the penalty upon receipt.

That resolution includes suspensions for Michigan offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore and tight ends coach Grant Newsome, according to the source. It is expected those will be for one game, though it remains unclear.

"We are continuing to work cooperatively with the NCAA staff on an enforcement matter," Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel said in a statement shortly after news broke Tuesday afternoon. "At this time, we cannot comment further on any aspect of the matter."

The Free Press reached out to Harbaugh's attorney, Tom Mars, for comment but a message has not yet been returned.

Harbaugh is expected to speak Thursday at Big Ten media days in Indianapolis.

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Negotiations date back to January, when sources confirmed to the Free Press that Harbaugh would not admit to knowingly misleading investigators, leaving talks at a standstill. Yahoo! reported that Harbaugh did admit to the Level II violations, which the Free Press confirmed stem from recruiting violations during a COVID-19 dead period, texting a recruit during a time not allowed, having analysts serve in on-field roles and having coaches watch players work out via zoom.

But the main snag for Harbaugh, it appears, is centered around the Level I violation.

"This is a one game suspension for the actual infraction," one source said, "and three games for their belief that he was less than forthright with their investigators."

Michigan opens the regular season with four home games: Sept. 2 against East Carolina; Sept. 9 against UNLV; Sept. 16 against Bowling Green and Sept. 23 against Rutgers. Harbaugh could return Sept. 30 at Nebraska.

Dellenger also reports former defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald is expected to receive a one-year show-cause penalty from the NCAA. He is now the defensive coordinator of the Baltimore Ravens. This would make it more difficult for college programs to hire him.

Harbaugh, who had dalliances with the NFL for a second straight offseason, was thought to be on the verge of a new contract extension with U-M, but there has been no public confirmation since Harbaugh announced he would return to Ann Arbor for the 2023 season.

Manuel did tell the Free Press earlier this summer that the two sides have, "had conversations about that" and "at the appropriate time, we'll make an announcement."

Though the Wolverines enter the 2023 season as the favorite to win the Big Ten championship and reach the College Football Playoff for a third straight season, issues have surrounded the program this offseason.

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U-M fired co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Matt Weiss in February after the university police department began an investigation into alleged computer crimes which stemmed from Schembechler Hall.

Three months later, the Wolverines hired Glenn "Shemy" Schembechler, son of longtime former coach Bo Schembechler, as assistant director of recruiting. He resigned a few days later after it became public knowledge he had "liked" multiple inappropriate posts on Twitter, including some which implied slavery and Jim Crow helped Black individuals and families.

The Wolverines are scheduled to begin fall camp Aug. 1 with their first day of practice Aug. 2.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan's Jim Harbaugh faces suspension to start 2023 season