Michigan is expected to self-impose a three-game suspension for head football coach Jim Harbaugh this season, according to a report Monday by Maize and Blue Review of the Rivals.com network.

Harbaugh would sit out home games vs. East Carolina Sept. 2, UNLV Sept. 9 and Bowling Green Sept. 16, but be back on the sideline for the Sept. 23 Big Ten opener vs. Rutgers. The Wolverines enter the season ranked No. 2 nationally behind two-time defending College Football Playoff champion Georgia.

The Athletic’s Austin Meek reported that Harbaugh’s suspension is not yet official, but that momentum is “moving toward” a suspension for Harbaugh. The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman later confirmed the original report.

The NCAA and Michigan previously negotiated a four-game suspension for Harbaugh that would have also included the Rutgers game, but the NCAA backed out on the agreement and continued its investigation. It was later reported Harbaugh would be on the sideline for every game this season, but that now appears not to be the case either.

Harbaugh is accused of making false statements to the NCAA during an investigation into potential infractions within the Michigan program that include (1) meeting with recruits during the COVID-19 dead period in 2020-21, (2) texting a recruit outside of an allowable contact period, (3) having analysts perform on-field coaching duties during practice and (4) having coaches watching players work out via Zoom. Harbaugh has acknowledged the violations — all “Level II” under the NCAA’s penalty structure — but has denied being untruthful with NCAA investigators.

During his appearance at Big Ten Media Days in July, Harbaugh declined comment on the investigation or any potential penalties he might incur.

“As you probably already know, I’m not allowed to talk about any aspect of that ongoing situation,” Harbaugh said. “I’m with you, I would love to lay it all out there. Nothing to be ashamed of. But now is not that time. That’s about all there is to say about that.”

Harbaugh is entering his ninth season at Michigan, where he is 74-25. The Wolverines have won back-to-back Big Ten titles and reached the College Football Playoff in both 2021 and 2022.