Before the Connor Stalions cheating scandal emerged, Ohio State nearly had Jim Harbaugh dismissed from his position at Michigan. Harbaugh had failed to defeat the Buckeyes in five attempts, and after he canceled The Game in 2020, his job was in jeopardy unless he achieved significant success in 2021.
Then the cheating scandal broke, and suddenly, Michigan started winning. Harbaugh’s position became secure as the team not only beat Ohio State again but also secured a national title. However, the cheating eventually caught up with Harbaugh and Michigan.
In an attempt to evade NCAA sanctions, Harbaugh moved to the NFL. The NCAA has now imposed a severe penalty on him—a four-year show-cause for recruiting violations, unrelated to the cheating scandal. According to Bruce Feldman, this punishment ensures that Harbaugh will not be returning to college football.
The Ohio State football team will no longer face Jim Harbaugh as an opposing coach
With such a severe penalty, it’s unlikely any program will touch Harbaugh again. If he is fired in Los Angeles, he’ll be limited to pursuing NFL opportunities, as a return to college football seems off the table. The NCAA has made it clear they don’t want him back in the college game, sending a strong message with this punishment.
Harbaugh hasn’t even been penalized for the cheating scandal yet. Once those additional sanctions are imposed, it will further ensure he won’t return to college coaching. The formal notice of allegations against Michigan, which hasn’t been released yet, will address the cheating issue and likely result in further repercussions for the program.
For the Ohio State Buckeyes, this era of Michigan football will forever be marked by an asterisk. The cheating that contributed to Michigan’s national title will taint its legitimacy in the eyes of those outside of Ann Arbor. At least the Buckeyes won’t have to face Harbaugh again.
Looking ahead, it will be interesting to see if the Ohio State football team can demonstrate their prowess and secure a national title this year without the cloud of cheating overshadowing their competition.
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