The NCAA finally dropped the hammer on Michigan. The governing body fined the Wolverines tens of millions of dollars and handed head coach Sherrone Moore a three-game suspension for the sign-stealing scandal that has hung over for nearly two years. But the fallout didn’t stop there—Chargers’ HC Jim Harbaugh, the former face of the program, also got roped back into the mess.

As these penalties went public, Harbaugh finally broke his silence. On X, insider Alex Insdorf reported: “Chargers HC Jim Harbaugh on NCAA sanctions and 14-year NCAA ban: ‘Like I said to you last year, not engaging.’” His response was classic Harbaugh—short, dismissive, and stubborn. Then again, Harbaugh’s story took a sharp turn long before this punishment became official. He walked away from Michigan after lifting the 2023 national championship trophy and headed west to coach the Bolts in SoFi Stadium. He had already served a three-game suspension, which allowed the Big Ten to drop its own investigation.

But here’s the twist—this isn’t just about a simple fine or a sideline ban. It’s about the dreaded “show-cause order,” a penalty that can haunt careers for more than a decade. The NCAA’s August 15 announcement also reveals more names: Connor Stalions, the former Michigan analyst accused of masterminding the elaborate ‘off-campus, in-person scouting scheme,’ Harbaugh; Denard Robinson, the former assistant director of player personnel; and, of course, Moore, who’s left to lead the Wolverines through the storm.

Moreover, the financial hit to Michigan is brutal. Reports project more than $20 million in losses. That includes a $50,000 fine, a 10% slash to the football program’s budget, and another 10% shaved off scholarships for 2025–26. Add in a fine equal to missing out on postseason revenue for two straight seasons, plus a 25% cut in official visits, and even a 14-week blackout on recruiting communication—it’s a full-on gut punch.

Finally, the scandal’s roots trace back to the fall of 2023. And Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti urged the NCAA last month not to add more sanctions against the Wolverines. But with the penalties now locked in, the shadow of Stalions’ scheme has followed Harbaugh all the way from the Big House to the bright lights of Hollywood.

Is Jim Harbaugh banned from college football?

To begin with, the NCAA’s ruling leaves little room for doubt—he’s banned from college football in practice. The one-year suspension built into his show-cause order alone is enough to scare off any school considering him, making his return to the sidelines highly unlikely.

Moreover, the punishment stretches far beyond a year. Harbaugh’s show-cause runs an eye-popping 14 years. That means the former Wolverines coach won’t be eligible to step back into the college game until August 2038. By then, he’ll be 74 years old, a number that makes the idea of a comeback feel more like a fantasy than reality.

Adding fuel to the fire, the NCAA didn’t hold back in its explanation. The infractions panel noted that Harbaugh’s “intentional disregard for NCAA legislation and unethical conduct amplified the severity of the case.” That led to a Level I-Aggravated classification, which included the lengthy show-cause and a one-season suspension. The ruling also pointed out that multiple people who tried to use the program failed to cooperate, making the situation even messier for Michigan.

Finally, the NCAA stressed Harbaugh’s history as a repeat violator and his pattern of not cooperating with investigations. Still, the blow might not sting as much for him personally. After all, his focus is on the NFL, where he is leading the Bolts in sunny Los Angeles.