More details emerge on Jim Harbaugh, Michigan contract offer

More details have emerged following a Wall Street Journal report that Michigan pulled a contract offer that would have made Jim Harbaugh the highest-paid coach in the Big Ten.

According to ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg, contract talks had accelerated the week of Oct. 8 prior to the NCAA’s investigation into Michigan’s alleged sign-stealing operation beginning.

ESPN notes that Harbaugh’s contract talks were then put on hold “pending the NCAA review.” Interestingly, a source told ESPN’s Tom VanHaaren that Harbaugh “was instructed not to sign yet.”

The news comes in a turbulent period for Michigan, which already suspended Harbaugh for three games at the beginning of this season for violations dating back to the COVID-19 dead period. With the sign-stealing investigation now ongoing, where Harbaugh stands with university brass is in question.

While Harbaugh has now brought a couple NCAA issues to the program, the team itself is doing as well as ever.

It’s a far cry from a few years ago, when Harbaugh was under immense pressure at Michigan and even took a pay cut during the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, that feels like a distant memory at this point.

Michigan has managed to reach the College Football Playoffs the last two years and is in line for another potential appearance this year.

This year’s team has already stormed out to an 8-0 start, ranked No. 2 in the country, and has barely had to break a sweat in a game all season. Of course, that will be put to the test in the final month, when Michigan must go on the road to Penn State and host Ohio State.

Still, the questions about Harbaugh’s future linger, especially in light of the contract talks being paused.

What’s next for Jim Harbaugh, Michigan?

The question as to what will happen to Michigan while the investigation is ongoing is a fascinating one, given Michigan’s positioning in the College Football Playoff race.

The initial CFP rankings will debut on Tuesday night, and you can bet that will be a topic of conversation.

“I think you just nailed what is the subplot of Tuesday night,” ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum said on The Matt Barrie Show on Sunday. “The committee chair will be asked about it. You know they’ve already got the typed-up answer and I doubt it’s going to tell us anything we don’t already know.”

As far as the bottom line, Finebaum doesn’t know that he believes the sign-stealing scandal will even impact Michigan that much.

“All I’m interested in now is can any of this stick? Does any of this really matter? And, quite frankly, I don’t think it does,” Finebaum stated. “I don’t think any of this is going to stick to Jim Harbaugh. I don’t think it’s going to influence or impact the College Football Playoff. That’s what we’re interested in.”

On3’s Sam Gillenwater also contributed to this report.