In October of 2023, former Michigan football head coach Jim Harbaugh made a statement that he had no knowledge of Connor Stalions advanced scouting operation, if it can even be called that.
On Friday, despite being given a 10-year show cause penalty by the NCAA, which is essentially meaningless since he's now coaching in the NFL, the NCAA's report confirmed that it found no evidence that Harbaugh directed or even had knowledge of what Stalions was doing.
So Jim Harbaugh told the truth, as he always has.
The NCAA found no evidence that Jim Harbaugh or Michigan coaches directed or had knowledge of low-level staffer's Connor Stalions' alleged off-campus scouting operation.
— Clayton Sayfie (@CSayf23) August 15, 2025
Jim Harbaugh made a statement in October 2023 that he had no knowledge, and that's supported.
Even during the "Burgergate" scandal, Harbaugh admitted, when shown a receipt for the lunch, that it was probably his order, and that he was probably there, but that he didn't specifically remember it.
Because of that, the NCAA called him a liar. Then, because he didn't hand over every personal email or text message from his devices, although all of his Michigan devices were searched, the NCAA said he didn't cooperate with the investigation in the Stalions case.
The truth is that the powers that be had an axe to grind against Jim Harbaugh and Michigan. He said things about player rights that changed college football, but made him enemies, especially among those in the NCAA.
The fact that Tennessee had over 100 violations, including 18 Level-1 violations, three times as many as Michigan, but was only fined $8 million compared to Michigan's $20 million, is eye-opening.
It's just another sign that the NCAA wanted to get its pound of flesh. However, at the end of the day, there was no evidence that what Stalions did helped Michigan football on the field, especially after he left the program.
So the former Michigan football head coach has been vindicated, along with the 2023 national championship team.