Hours after Jim Harbaugh released a cryptic statement about his future at Michigan, news broke that the school’s football program is under NCAA investigation for potential rules violations.

Yahoo Sports, ESPN and The Athletic all reported late Thursday that Michigan was set to receive or had already received a formal Notice of Allegations from the NCAA. Reportedly among the charges against the Wolverines is a Level I allegation against Harbaugh, who is accused of failing to cooperate with the NCAA in its investigative efforts.

Level I violations are the most serious under the NCAA penalty structure. Head coaches charged with Level I violations could face severe sanctions, including a multi-game suspension.

The alleged infractions also reportedly include a number of Level II violations (less serious than Level I under NCAA rules). Among those charges are that Michigan used too many coaches at practice, met with recruits during the COVID-19 dead period in 2020 and observed offseason player workouts via video.

The news on the NCAA investigation came on the same day Harbaugh released a statement via social media, in which he either clarified or further muddied rumors he might be headed back to the NFL. In the statement (which included the headline “A Michigan Man through and through”), Harbaugh wrote that “while no one knows what the future holds, I expect to be enthusiastically coaching Michigan in 2023.”

The 59-year-old Harbaugh is 74-25 in eight seasons at Michigan, where he starred at quarterback in the mid-1980s. The Wolverines have won the Big Ten championship and reached the College Football Playoff in each of the last two seasons.

However, Harbaugh has also been highly successful in the NFL. He coached the San Francisco 49ers to three straight NFC championship games and a Super Bowl during a four-year tenure that ended in 2014.

Harbaugh seriously considered taking the Minnesota Vikings coaching job last offseason, before ultimately opting to return to Michigan. He is expected to be considered for numerous NFL jobs that are currently open or soon could be, including the Denver Broncos, Carolina Panthers, Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts, where he played quarterback in the mid-1990s.