Why did Michigan name Jim Harbaugh honorary captain? Former Wolverines boss set to return to Ann Arbor for season opener

Michigan enlisted a familiar, albeit controversial, name to serve as honorary captain ahead of its Aug. 31 season opener against Fresno State.

The Wolverines announced their plans to hand the honorary captain's armband to former head coach Jim Harbaugh when they face off against the Bulldogs.

"I look forward to having him back in Ann Arbor for that game," Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel said in an interview on the "1 Star Recruits" podcast.

The move comes just two days after Harbaugh — who jumped ship to helm the Chargers after leading Big Blue to its first national championship in 26 years — was handed a one-year suspension and four-year show-cause order by the NCAA. With his punishment, Harbaugh will be held off the sidelines for a full year if he were to be hired by a college team in 2024 or the next four seasons after it.

Harbaugh's legacy in the college game is mixed, with some showering him with praise for bringing UM back to the pinnacle of college football and others brandishing him as a liar and cheat. Ultimately, his reputation in Ann Arbor appears to be intact, so much so that Sherrone Moore's side is preparing to welcome him back with open arms.

MORE: Why Jim Harbaugh will be suspended 1 year if he returns to college football before 2028

Here's what you need to know.

Why did Michigan name Jim Harbaugh honorary captain?

Harbaugh will get a chance to don the maize-and-blue once more on Aug. 31, this time in the role of an honorary captain. Harbaugh and a gaggle of former Michigan players will be in attendance as the program looks to kick off the 2024 season — and celebrate its historic accomplishments from 2023.

The Wolverines' gesture is a timely one given the NCAA's decision on their former coach. College sport's governing body ruled that Harbaugh violated edicts revolving around permissible contact with recruits when recruiting was restricted during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. The NCAA also insisted that Harbaugh wasn't truthful with investigators throughout the league's inquiries.

Harbaugh was subsequently handed a three-game, self-imposed suspension as a result of the NCAA's findings. He returned to the sidelines shortly thereafter and took Michigan up the college football playoff standings. However, prior to the end of the season, Harbaugh was again suspended, this time for being implicated in Michigan's sign-stealing scandal.

Harbaugh is still liable to receive additional punishment for his role in the sign-stealing kerfuffle. There were reports that those punishments could transcend league barriers, with the NFL not interested in serving as a "safe harbor" for Harbaugh's footballing needs. However, most of those reports centered around Harbaugh's rumored involvement in the sign-stealing scandal. It's unclear whether the league would do the same in the case of Harbaugh's suspension for making impermissible contact with recruits.

Harbaugh ostensibly will be tasked with all the responsibilities an honorary captain typically possesses, including motivation and flashing bright smiles for the camera. He's expected to do so unfettered by the weight of a mammoth punishment; the NFL proved unwilling to punish former Giants assistant Jeremy Pruitt after recruiting violations — and a lengthier show-cause penalty.

So, expect Harbaugh to make his mark at the Big House on Aug. 31. Permissible or not, it's sure to be a doozy when the Wolverines trot onto the grass.