Never go in against a Harbaugh when death is on the line! Dan Wetzel has the nitty gritty details on what's going with what MSU honks are describing as SCANDAL ARMAGEDDON and the rest of the world is completely ignoring. Long story short, someone at the NCAA is suicidal enough to get into a staring contest with James Joseph Harbaugh:

Harbaugh is not expected to back down and would likely mount a ferocious defense against any allegation he purposely lied. Harbaugh is famous for being stubborn, both as a player and as a head coach in the NCAA and NFL.

Additionally, it is generally challenging to prove someone knowingly lied without detailed contemporaneous evidence, which sources say the NCAA either lacks or simply doesn't exist.

The NCAA could back off its attempt to gather that admission and resolve the case otherwise, however it has made no indication that it will do that. An NCAA punishment, even a short suspension, on the Level II violations without any admission of lying might be acceptable to Harbaugh. Anything involving admitting dishonesty would not, sources said.

I wish this person good luck. Sisyphus-ass lawyering awaits.

[After THE JUMP: all hail cube!]

Not even close! Michigan's women's 4x400 relay suffered a fall in their first leg in a recent quad meet. They were never heard from again…

This is grit. Watch the whole thing you won't regret it.

After a fall by Sophie Isom in the first leg of the 4x400 relay, Michigan reclaimed the race, highlighted by Savannah Sutherland splitting three seconds faster than any other runner in the second leg. pic.twitter.com/q8jyVRKzxO

— Michigan Track & Field / Cross Country (@UMichTrack) January 22, 2023

…because they got too far in front for anyone to hear them say "lol. lmao."

An unusual rating. Tom VanHaaren evaluates the transfer classes of ESPN's "way too early top 25," which features Michigan at #3. The transfer class evaluation:

Biggest newcomers: Michigan continues to be a major portal player, adding key players on both sides of the ball. Offensive linemen LaDarius Henderson (Arizona State), Myles Hinton (Stanford) and others should help fill holes and provide depth. The Wolverines also added defensive playmakers like Coastal Carolina's Josaiah Stewart and Nebraska's Ernest Hausmann. Tight end AJ Barner (Indiana) should help a group that will miss NFL-bound Luke Schoonmaker.

Remaining holes: Michigan should continue to look for help on defense, especially after losing linemen Mazi Smith and Mike Morris, and cornerback DJ Turner. Another veteran defensive back could help a talented young group featuring cornerback Will Johnson and safety Rod Moore. Stewart should help offset the pass-rushing loss of Morris and Okie, but the Wolverines could use another piece up front. -- Rittenberg

VanHaaren's grade: A. The Wolverines were more active in the portal than usual, and it was a good thing they were, as the program saw 10 players enter the portal since the end of November, including McNamara, All, Okie, defensive lineman George Rooks and receiver Andrel Anthony. But adding Stewart, Hausman, Barner and a few good offensive linemen this offseason help bolster the roster.

I think the DL is probably going to be fine with McGregor and Moore vying with Stewart at end, though I wish Rooks had stuck around to see if he could follow the Mike Morris path. A corner would be nice but it looks like the portal fiesta is largely over and done. 247 has just two uncommitted CBs currently listed; one is ECU's fourth-best CB. The other is a flier USC took who never saw the field. Message boards have muttered about pirating USC's Domani Jackson after there was some social media look-at-me stuff from Jackson, but that's a real longshot. Michigan's likely going to roll with what they've got there.

Jett evaluated. NBA types are talking about Jett Howard as a riser:

If he wants to go the NBA will happily take him in the lottery but there are still a bunch of things he needs to work on even outside of the glaring defensive issues:

First, whenever he comes left off a ball screen, he’s trying to pass more than to score, looking for pocket passes to bigs and coming off too slowly to put any pressure on the basket. Second, his touch around the rim when he does use his left is subpar, and he often tries to use his right hand when on the left side.

It’s too early to be able to tell if Jett’s left will be an inhibitor to true offensive versatility in the NBA or if he’ll continue to need actions tailor-made to get him to his right. What’s worrisome is that, unlike Franz, Jett doesn’t seem to have much of an ability to separate without those staggered screens and running starts. His handle has some flashes to it, but any bit of space he creates from it turns into pull-up jumpers or runners. Having only 15 half-court rim attempts in 18 games is an alarmingly low rate that raises a giant red flag — especially considering how much of Michigan’s offense is designed around getting him separation.

It's possible a family that has a pretty vested interest in Michigan's success now and down the road and is… uh… not in financial difficulty would make a decision that most lottery prospects would not. Here's hoping for a year two from Jett. If Howard's ankle injury keeps him on the shelf a while that might also argue for a return.

The other draft bits. Dane Brugler's mock draft doesn't have any Michigan players in the first round but Mazi Smith (#42), DJ Turner (#58), and Mike Morris (#62) land in the second round. First-round mocks at Yahoo, USA Today, and CBS don't have any Michigan guys. Bright side take on this is that nobody's going to be as hard to replace as Aidan Hutchinson was this year.

Pretty good. PFF's top-graded college safeties largely passes the sniff test and includes a familiar name:

Top 10 highest graded Safeties from the 2022 season pic.twitter.com/PrES5LbUnp

— PFF College (@PFF_College) January 23, 2023

I was going to say something about how he was a true sophomore, wow, but both Kinchens and Burks were also true sophomores. Everyone else on the list above him is gone to the draft, though, so Moore projects as a potential All American if he sticks on the current path.

All hail cube. Anyone in the mood for 1936 Northwestern-Minnesota? Where are you all going? There is a cube!

https://t.co/O2ayRBOUqF

Here's the original video. I'll break it up into some small chunks so no one has to watch 24 minutes of 1936 Northwestern football.

— Sickos Committee (@SickosCommittee) January 23, 2023

There is no forward passing but I mean… cube.

Etc.: College football ignorer discovers transfer rules, is lambasted on internet. An excellent, lengthy article on what Michigan's trying to do on the ice. Man has a question, gets an answer.