BREAKING: Court will NOT overturn Jim Harbaugh suspension before PSU kick

Note: This is a breaking news story, and the information included is subject to change.

A local Michigan court has not overturned the three-game suspension of Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh that was levied by the Big Ten Friday afternoon. Harbaugh will not be on the sidelines when Michigan takes on Penn State football inside Beaver Stadium this afternoon. The Michigan head coach is prohibited from being on site for Saturday’s top 10 matchup between the Wolverines and Nittany Lions.

Michigan fires back at suspension of Jim Harbaugh

Friday afternoon, the Big Ten conference made the groundbreaking move to suspend Jim Harbaugh for the remainder of the regular season due to the ongoing sign-stealing scandal engulfing the Michigan football program.

Per the Big Ten’s decision, Harbaugh, who had been suspended under the conference’s sportsmanship policy, is allowed to coach during the week. However, he is prohibited from coaching Michigan’s final three games, starting Saturday at Penn State.

“Today’s action by [Big Ten] Commissioner Tony Petitti disregards the Conference’s own handbook, violates basic tenets of due process, and sets an untenable precedent of assessing penalties before an investigation has been completed,” Michigan said in its official response. “We are dismayed at the Commissioner’s rush to judgment when there is an ongoing NCAA investigation – one in which we are fully cooperating.”

Court will NOT overturn Jim Harbaugh suspension before Penn State game

As was expected, Michigan immediately filed to have a temporary restraining order (TRO) instated, which would allow Harbaugh to coach Saturday vs. Penn State. The request was filed in Washtenaw County (Michigan) Circuit Court, following a similar local jurisdiction precedent set by Nebraska when it sued the Big Ten during the canceled 2020 season.

But according to Pete Thamel of ESPN, Jim Harbaugh will not coach today against Penn State as the in-person hearing has been pushed to November 17th. 

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

Harbaugh was already in State College when the original news broke. The Michigan team plane was en route to Penn State when the Big Ten announced its initial suspension.

Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh is here in State College. Looks like an emergency tarmac meeting. pic.twitter.com/MQaRFBoW61

— Ryan Parsons (@rjparsons9) November 10, 2023

While the legal battles may continue, what we know for now is that Jim Harbaugh will not be present for the battle between the top 10 teams in Happy Valley. Kickoff between Michigan and Penn State football is set for noon on FOX.

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