NCAA vs. Michigan Rivalry Is a Personal Battle Now

© Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports

As the college football season approaches, fans across the country begin to look forward to the annual rivalry games. For many fanbases, a win or loss in these games is the difference between a successful season and a disastrous one. Games like Alabama vs. Auburn, Texas vs. Oklahoma and Michigan vs. Ohio State have the power to divide houses, families and friends. Weeks before the battles on the field take place rival fanbases are already engaged in pregame trash talk. 

But there is a new rivalry brewing in college football. Unlike the traditional rivalries fans have become accustomed to, this one has been built on leaks, shots over social media and press conferences—along with a blatant disregard for the authority one believes they have. Instead of deciding the winner on a field, this will be decided in a boardroom or possibly a courtroom.

Over this past year, the University of Michigan and the NCAA have become entrenched in two scandals that have taken over the headlines in the college football world. From COVID-19 recruiting violations to a sign stealing investigation the NCAA and Michigan have started to build a disdain for one another. And after a busy seven days of leaks, punishments, podium shots and a disregard for punishment, it looks like the NCAA vs. Michigan rivalry has now become personal for both.

NCAA vs. Michigan Begins

Back in July 2023, reports came out that the NCAA and Michigan were close to an agreement to suspend then-head coach Jim Harbaugh for the first four games of the 2024 season. This agreement would later fall apart and have Michigan self-impose a three-game suspension for the violations that occurred. Harbaugh being Harbaugh, the now former coach and current head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers proclaimed his innocence, while his players showed up with "Free Harbaugh" shirts for the first three games. Deemed "Burger-Gate" by the Michigan media and with pressure growing, the NCAA released a statement on the ongoing investigation to stress that it was not about a hamburger.

Many in the media believe that if Harbaugh had just admitted the wrongdoing Michigan and Harbaugh would have been hit with a slap on the wrist. Instead, Harbaugh decided to fight and turn a molehill into a mountain. A decision that would put a target on Harbaugh and come back to hurt the former head coach.

NCAA Becomes WikiLeaks

Just before Michigan was to play rival Michigan State in 2023 news broke that the NCAA was again investigating Michigan—this time for in-person scouting. The Big Ten Conference even informed Michigan's future opponents the Wolverines most likely had their game-day signals. This investigation had two main differences from other scandals. It was playing out in real time and the NCAA developed more leaks than hole in a pasta strainer.

From the time news broke, Michigan was hit with almost daily leaks of alleged findings in the case. It didn’t take long for media outlets to find out the main targets involved in the situations surrounding the investigation from unnamed sources. Just when you would think it couldn't get any worse, another bit of damaging information would be leaked out. Michigan coaches and players were unable to comment or defend themselves thanks to not being able to comment on ongoing investigations.

Since the Michigan news broke, other investigations have come to light, including Tennessee's NIL recruiting violations and Kentucky's impermissible benefits. Yet, there were no information leaks. But when it comes to Michigan the NCAA all of a sudden turned into WikiLeaks. 

The NCAA decided to use the court of public opinion as the judge, jury and executioner. After Harbaugh refused to cooperate in the first investigation, the writing was on the wall that he would be leaving at the end of the year. The NCAA, wanting to punish Harbaugh while he was still at Michigan, used the media to administer the punishment. Why is it that a usually tight-lipped organization that rules on programs and their lack of institutional control all of a sudden had loose lips?

Whatever the NCAA finds, and rules on at this point, doesn’t matter. The damage is already done. Because this was played out in the court of public opinion, the actual punishment is now irrelevant. Michigan's 2023 season has already been tainted and vacated. The title has already been given an asterisk. The NCAA, by having this play out in the media, moved for the first time like a Ferrari instead of a snail like they have been known for.

Rivalry Becomes Personal

On Aug. 4  it was widely reporter there was a draft of the alleged Notice of Allegations and the NCAA was going to serve Michigan. And just like that, a story that just happened to disappear just before the Michigan vs. Ohio State game, was back in the headlines. The report did state there could be changes to the draft, but regardless, the draft immediately had the college football world speculating on what the punishment could be. And for Michigan fans, it gave them a first glance at the potential charges that could be coming. 

It didn’t take long for reporters to ask the former Michigan headman about the potential NOA coming. 

Harbaugh did what he has all along declared his innocence.

“Yeah, I do have a comment on that," Harbaugh said. "Never lie, never cheat, never steal. I was raised with that lesson. I have raised my family on that lesson. I have preached that lesson to the teams I have coached. No one’s perfect. If you stumble, you apologize and you make it right. Today, I do not apologize. I did not participate, was not aware nor complicit in those said allegations.”

Just when you thought the week couldn't produce any more headlines, the NCAA released its penalties for Harbaugh concerning the COVID-19 violations. The NCAA hit Harbaugh with a one-year suspension along with a four-year show-cause. Rival fanbases flocked to social media to declare the "hammer" had just come down.

There's just one problem. The penalties handed down are meaningless now that Harbaugh is in the NFL.  The proverbial "hammer" came down on nothing. The punishment was like being suspended from a job where you no longer work.

Paul Finebaum, one of Harbaugh's biggest critics, even laughed at the punishment.

“They are completely dysfunctional, they are vindictive, they are petty, but mostly, and I think everybody can sing the hymnal here, they’re laughable," Finebaum said on ESPN's "Get Up." "Nobody respects this organization. Nobody really cares about them anymore because Jim Harbaugh is never, ever, ever coming back.”

What has become a personal battle received even more fuel for the fire by UM. Despite the ongoing investigation and the suspension, Michigan decided the time was right, to bring Harbaugh back to Ann Arbor as an honorary captain for Michigan's first home game against Fresno State on Aug. 31.

Given what had transpired in the days before, it is more than likely the university's decision was not just about the football program. There is no chance new head coach Sherrone Moore could have made this decision without having talked to and received approval from Athletic Director Warde Manuel and President Santa Ono. The university, by bringing Harbaugh back, is telling the NCAA we do not value anything you have to say or do. The university watched the NCAA drop the punishment and decided this was the perfect time to bring Harbaugh back for a hero’s welcome in front of over 105,000 fans on national TV.

Every Action Has a Reaction

Harbaugh made it a career in his time at Michigan to take shots at the NCAA, and now, Michigan looks to continue that tradition. Michigan, by giving the NCAA the "double bird," has now provoked the same organization that needs to rule on their sign-stealing investigation. 

The NCAA has already shown signs of being petty, and now Michigan has shown no regard for the NCAA authority. Has Michigan, by calling out the NCAA's authority, meaninglessly "poked the bear" one too many times? Michigan had a target on their back before, but it just grew about 10 times bigger and that should have fans worried. Every action has a reaction and Michigan's action may cause an already damning NOA to become one that will have rivals rejoicing.

Michigan pushed all their chips in with their latest move and they better be right on doing it. Because if the NCAA wasn’t coming before, you know they're coming for Michigan now. Is it possible Michigan knows something no one else does and thats why the made such a bold move?

Whatever the answer, Michigan better not be wrong. If Michigan is wrong it just might be honoring a man that set the program back years.