They waited until 3:50 PM (ESPN got a 30-minute advance), on the court holiday, on the Friday before the thus-far biggest game of the season. But the Big Ten is indeed going through with its plan to suspend Harbaugh, at least from the sideline, through the Ohio State game.

The Big Ten's servers are getting slammed right now but former student president Michael Proppe posted Tony Petitti's response to Twitter.

The letter includes some surprisingly recursive arguments:

• It is unsafe for the players: "if you know what play your opponent is running, then you also know where your opponents' players will be on the field."
• Signs are permanent: "Numerous coaches have informed me that signs and signals cannot be quickly or easily changed, and I find those statements credible."
• It's okay if they have your signs though: "The Conference has not received any information that any other members schools engaged in impermissible advance in-person scouting."
• Who needs evidence? "We impose this disciplinary action even though the Conference has not yet received any information indicating that Head Football Coach Harbaugh was aware of the impermissible nature of the sign-stealing scheme.

The "will be allowed to coach during the week" rider is interesting. Ohio State used this method to sorta-suspend Urban Meyer for enabling his staffer's spousal abuse in 2018, and Michigan did the same earlier this year for Harbaugh enabling his staffers' meal expense abuse. It's possible the Big Ten hoped Michigan would see this for a fig leaf and accept the punishment.

They will not:

Michigan will file a temporary restraining order in the next few hours, and almost certainly has a judge lined up to take it. The petty timing of this action might be enough on its own to win the injunction. Harbaugh is currently traveling to Penn State.