Could an NCAA investigation for Michigan drive Jim Harbaugh to the NFL?

Michigan is reportedly facing an NCAA investigation. Could that complication drive head coach Jim Harbaugh to the NFL despite his recent statement?

Even with another exit from the College Football Playoff, Michigan fans are eager to keep head coach Jim Harbaugh around for the foreseeable future.

The Wolverines head coach released a statement on Thursday reaffirming his plans to remain in Ann Arbor in 2023.

Then Nicole Auerbach of The Athletic dropped some news: Michigan is facing an NCAA investigation, with a notice of allegations expected to arrive by Friday.

Could that change the calculus for Harbaugh and the NFL?

Could Jim Harbaugh leave for NFL with Michigan facing NCAA investigation?

The simple answer is it’s highly unlikely the NCAA infractions allegations will play a role in whether Harbaugh stays or goes.

Auerbach reported that the alleged violations are “relatively minor infractions” stemming from an analyst directly coaching players, which they’re not allowed to do, and contact between a recruit and staffer by text that violated NCAA rules.

Those kinds of infractions usually result in a slap on the wrist at worse, especially when they’re self-reported, as these reportedly were.

The wording of Harbaugh’s statement should probably be a bigger concern for Michigan fans than the NCAA at this point.

Harbaugh said he “expect[s]” to coach Michigan in 2023 but left the door wide open for a departure by also saying “no one knows what the future holds” in that same statement.

The Harbaugh-to-the-NFL rumors are likely to keep pouring in. They’re just not going to be driven by the prospect of NCAA punishment for the Wolverines.

UPDATE: As Lee Corso likes to say, “Not so fast my friends!”

The arrival of Michigan’s notice of allegations brought with it some worrying news for Harbaugh and Michigan. The head coach has been hit with a Level I violation for not complying with NCAA investigators while The Athletic reported the NCAA issue could play a role in Harbaugh’s decision regarding NFL opportunties.

For more College Football news, analysis, opinion and unique coverage by FanSided, including Heisman Trophy and College Football Playoff rankings, be sure to bookmark these pages.