Michigan sign stealing - What's next in Jim Harbaugh Big Ten battle - ESPN

With the Big Ten's ruling on whether Michigan violated the league's sportsmanship policy expected to arrive in the near future, the focus of the college football season's most high-profile standoff could shift to the courtroom.

Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti provided notice to Michigan that the conference was considering some form of discipline earlier this week. A source confirmed to ESPN that Michigan responded Wednesday with a 10-page letter that strongly urged the league not to act, laying the groundwork for an immediate appeal to the justice system if Petitti doles out any sanctions.

Sources consistently have told ESPN the expected punishment for any widespread illicit sign-stealing program run by former analyst Connor Stalions has long been the suspension of coach Jim Harbaugh. The length of that potential suspension is uncertain.

Harbaugh served a three-game self-imposed suspension at the start of this season in response to allegations of NCAA recruiting violations. During that time, he was only prohibited from coaching the team on game days. Sources told ESPN that Big Ten athletic directors made clear to Petitti on a call last week that they wanted any suspension of Harbaugh to be different. The athletic directors, per sources, pushed strongly for Harbaugh to not be allowed to enter the facility or coach any aspect of the team at any time during the suspension.

If Petitti does suspend Harbaugh this week, sources said Michigan has been preparing to challenge the ruling in court in an effort to keep Harbaugh on the sideline for the No. 3 Wolverines' game at No. 10 Penn State on Saturday.

Sources have indicated for days that both Harbaugh and Michigan have been preparing a legal rebuttal, the process of which