Bret Bielema isn’t one to bite his tongue when Jim Harbaugh’s name is in the mix. As Yahoo Sports detailed Michigan’s plan to fight the NCAA allegations in the sign-stealing scandal involving Connor Stalions, the Illinois HC fired off a shot on Tuesday night. Bielema dug up an old clip of the present LA Chargers HC where he said, “If you cheat to win, then you’ve already lost.” And with a healthy dose of sarcasm, he taunted, “Really…. Why did you leave? Was looking forward to playing but understand why you ran to the #NFL.” Who do we side with?

Nothing escapes the watchful eyes and ears of Paul Finebaum. Less than a day after Bret Bielema took his shot at Jim Harbaugh, the ESPN analyst made it clear whose side he was on. On3 posted on X on January 30 what he said on The Paul Finebaum Show. He didn’t hold back — “He is right. Harbaugh is just a disingenuous fraud about all the things he used to say. He didn’t want to face the music.”

Bret Bielema wasn’t done. He doubled down on his dig with another old clip where the former Michigan HC preached, “Tell the truth, always. If you lie… it’s over.” Beliema’s response? No words — just “😂🏈😂” Message received. It’s not every day you see coaches going at it on social media. And Paul Finebaum added fuel to the fire saying, “By the way, Michigan didn’t really want him to stay.”

Would they, though? Even after winning them a National Championship? Yeah, he brought home the ultimate trophy but let’s not forget — Jim Harbaugh spent six games in 2023 away from the sidelines. Michigan’s image took a hit — a 3-game suspension imposed by the school for NCAA recruiting violations to kick off the season and another 3-game suspension late in the season with the sign-stealing scandal. So, when Ross Dellenger reported Michigan’s plan to fight against the NCAA allegations concerning the sign-stealing scandal, the floodgates opened. 

Michigan’s plan to fight the NCAA’s sign-stealing allegations 

Michigan has finally drawn its battle lines in the Connor Stalions’ case. Per the 137-page document that Yahoo Sports obtained, UM is pushing back hard against the NCAA’s allegations. Their thoughts? The NCAA is “grossly overreaching” and “wildly overcharging” them without proper evidence about the alleged sign-stealing scandal spearheaded by Stalions. 

Last August, Michigan got an official Notice of Allegations from the NCAA. But the Wolverines aren’t about to take it without a fight. In their response, the school fired back arguing that the NCAA’s claims were filled with “numerous factually unsupported infractions, exaggerates aggravating factors and ignores mitigating facts,” per the document. A request was also made to the NCAA by Michigan to downgrade the case as a “Level II standard case” and not a Level I infraction and approach it with “common sense and commitment to fairness.” 

There’s no sign of peace between Bret Bielema and Jim Harbaugh anytime soon. And the NCAA vs Michigan only kindled that beef. And with Finebaum entering the mix, the Big Ten feud is about to get even more intense.