Why coach Jim Harbaugh was suspended

On Monday night, Michigan football will aim to capture just its second national championship since the 1948 season, and first since 1997, when it takes on Washington in the College Football Playoff title game in Houston.

It will mark the end of a 2023 season that has been as turbulent as it has been successful.

The Wolverines have been the dominant story of the 2023 season, both because of their on-field dominance and their alleged off-field misdeeds. As coach Jim Harbaugh and his team embarked on an undefeated regular season and their third-consecutive Big Ten championship, they were often the subject of unsavory headlines.

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Much of that has revolved around an ongoing NCAA investigation into alleged in-person scouting and stealing signs. Since the story broke on Oct. 19, it has taken no shortage of twists and turns since, all of which has captivated much of the college football world.

Even as the Wolverines have continued to win and inch closer to their dream of a national title, the effects of the sign-stealing scandal have lurked. For several games, they were without Harbaugh, who was suspended. While he was gone and even once he returned, the scandal has been referenced repeatedly by players and coaches — not specifically, but as “adversity” the team has endured and continues to face.

How did Michigan get to this point? How did an already memorable season become something slightly more chaotic? Here’s everything you need to know about the Michigan sign-stealing scandal:

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Michigan sign-stealing scandal, explained

While Michigan’s ongoing headaches have often been framed around sign-stealing, the program is…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/michigan-football-sign-stealing-scandal-104519409.html

Author : Detroit Free Press

Publish date : 2024-01-08 10:45:19

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