INDIANAPOLIS — The last time Jim Harbaugh stood on the Lucas Oil Stadium turf, he had confetti on his shirt and a smile on his face after the Wolverines wrapped up their second straight Big Ten championship, a 43-22 win over Purdue.
Some 237 days later, Michigan football is the favorite to win the league for a third consecutive season, though it's likely Harbaugh won't have the same grin when he steps on the field to address reporters on Thursday.
That's because, in all likelihood, the Wolverines' head man won't be on the sideline for the first four games of the regular season.