Michigan vs. Everybody

11/13/2023

By: Jeff Yoder

#3 Michigan Defeats #10 Penn State (24-15) the Day After Big Ten Hits Harbaugh With Sideline Suspension

The bombshell news of the weekend wasted no time breaking the internet on Friday. Shortly after we checked out for the weekend, the Big Ten handed Michigan a unique penalty in wake of the program’s sign-stealing scandal. Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti’s punishment barred head coach Jim Harbaugh from being on the sidelines during games for the remainder of the season. Harbaugh can still coach practices, and he’ll be allowed on the sidelines if Michigan makes the CFB Playoff. The news broke while the team was on the plane to Happy Valley for their big Saturday clash with #10 Penn State. Despite Harbaugh’s absence, the Wolverines beat the Nittany Lions (24-15) in a defensive struggle that keeps Michigan undefeated (10-0) and sets the stage for a wild stretch run, sans Harbaugh — matchups with Maryland (6-4) and Ohio State (10-0).

Michigan’s Response: Shortly after the news, Michigan players (and even alumni like Tom Brady) simply tweeted out: “Bet.” The simply saying is slang for deal, or “okay then.” It appears to be a rally cry to symbolize the “Michigan vs. Everybody” attitude — an NIL group even launched t-shirts with the rally cry. Assistant coach Sherrone Moore cried in the post-game interviewed and thanked Coach Harbaugh.

In Short: The Michigan community clearly thinks a more thorough investigation was needed, and it will be. But much of the college football landscape sees UM’s victim mentality as tone-deaf. Rules were broken. Justice follows. Now we’ll see if this entire debacle simply lights a fire in the Wolverines leading up to the matchup with #1 Ohio State.

CFB Week 11 Scores & Highlights

#1 Ohio State def. Michigan State (38-3)

#2 Georgia def. #9 Ole Miss (52-17)

#3 Michigan def. #10 Penn State (24-15)

#4 Florida State def. Miami (27-20)

#5 Washington def. #18 Utah (35-28)

#6 Oregon def. USC (36-27)

#7 Texas def. TCU (29-26)

#8 Alabama def. Kentucky (49-21)

Bonus: #17 Oklahoma def. West Virginia (59-20) Behind QB Dillon Gabriel’s Record-Setting 473 Yards & 8 TDs

AP Poll: #1 Georgia, #2 Michigan, #3 Ohio State, #4 Florida State, #5 Washington, #6 Oregon, #7 Texas, #8 Alabama, #9 Louisville, #10 Oregon State (Next CFB Playoff Rankings Revealed Tuesday, Nov. 14)

ESPN: Georgia Extends AP Run at No. 1 to 2nd-Best, 22 Consecutive Weeks

Photo: Aaron J. Thornton / Getty Images