In NCAA’s case vs. Michigan, talks have stalled because Jim Harbaugh refused to admit that he lied about NCAA.

A possible negotiated settlement in the NCAA infractions case involving the Michigan football program After the NCAA asked for a head coach, it was forced to be dissolved. Jim Harbaugh Multiple sources tell Yahoo Sports that he lied and lied to investigators

Sources claim Harbaugh admitted that his program had committed four Level II violations as originally alleged by the NCAA. Harbaugh has also apologized to the university for these violations. He has not signed any documents or stated publicly that he was ever untruthful to the enforcement staff.

The 59-year-old has maintained he didn’t recall the events when first speaking with investigators but that he was never purposefully dishonest.

The NCAA provided a draft of an allegation earlier this month that cited the four Level 2 violations. Sources say they include having two recruits meet with them during a COVID-19 dead time, sending a recruit outside the allowed time, and having analysts coach practice sessions.

The NCAA defines Level II violations as resulting in “less than a substantial or extensive recruiting, competitive or other advantage.” It further calls them “systemic violations that do not amount to lack of institutional control”.

Most punishments are minor.

The NCAA claims Harbaugh lied about the infractions to enforcement personnel during the investigation. This is a Level I violation. That’s what turned this into a more serious case.

According to NCAA statutes, Level I violations can lead to a six-game suspension and severe recruiting restrictions. Coaches have faced show cause penalties in the past that made their job difficult.

Two meetings were held this week by Harbaugh and the NCAA. They refused to budge from their positions during these meetings. The NCAA stated that the coach lied. The coach claimed that he had forgotten about other insignificant actions. An impasse resulted.

All this happened during a turbulent time for football. The Wolverines lost to TCU on New Year’s Eve in the semifinals of the College Football Playoffs. This was the culmination of a 13-1 season in which Michigan reached the playoffs, won the Big Ten, and defeated Ohio State in consecutive seasons.

Within days, Harbaugh’s name emerged again for various NFL head coaching openings, including the Denver BroncosHe spoke with him. Harbaugh refused to return to his alma maternity for a ninth season when word spread about the NCAA violations case.

Harbaugh had earlier this week stated that he would return to the university for the 2023 season. However, the NCAA case was still pending. Additionally, co-offensive coordinator Matt Weiss was suspended Tuesday: Police investigate the allegation that Schembechler Hall employees accessed university email accounts without authorisation.

The battle lines have been drawn in the NCAA case.

Harbaugh will not back down, and would likely defend any claim that he intentionally lied. Harbaugh is known for being stubborn as both a player as well as as a head coach in both the NCAA and NFL.

Furthermore, without sufficient contemporaneous evidence, it can be difficult to prove someone knowingly lies. Some sources claim that the NCAA doesn’t even exist.

Although the NCAA could withdraw its attempts to collect that admission and resolve this case in another way, it has not indicated that it will. Harbaugh might accept a temporary suspension by the NCAA for Level II violations, but not for admitting to lying. Sources said that any admission of dishonesty would be unacceptable.

Or, the NCAA could continue with a full investigation and issue a Notice of Allegation. Harbaugh could also coach the whole 2023 season where the Wolverines will again be a contender for national title.

Michigan would have to decide whether to support its coach in the NCAA fight. In the past, schools often chose cooperation, but the NCAA has suffered significant credibility and power loss over the past decade.

Public opinion has turned on amateurism in general — and thus the NCAA rules that stem from it — as well as the infractions process that has failed to punish high-profile cases with far more significant recruiting allegations. Initial public support has been heavily on Harbaugh’s side and whether that should or should not be a consideration for the enforcement staff, the reality is this isn’t 2003, or even 2018, any longer.

Is the NCAA willing to do whatever it takes to prove Jim Harbaugh was lying? Is Michigan ready to stand by its coach and tell the enforcement personnel to pound the sand and prove it

Or can this still be resolved before an epic battle emerges between one of college athletics’ most powerful, popular and well-heeled institutions and one of football’s most famous coaches and a weakened governing body that even with diminished relevancy might still have might?