Less than two weeks separate Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan Wolverines from their Rose Bowl matchup against Alabama in the College Football Semifinal.

But after nine seasons with Michigan, a lot of the conversation in Ann Arbor has focused more on Harbaugh’s future with the Wolverines and whether he will return to the NFL.

The 59-year-old Harbaugh appeared to indirectly address these rumors on Sunday night when he spoke to the team’s senior players at a banquet.

Harbaugh stated, “I just wanna say, I hope some of you are coming back next year,” according to Detroit’s WDIV’s Derick Hutchinson.

Harbaugh hasn’t explicitly stated that he intends to play a tenth season at Michigan. However, that is undoubtedly one interpretation of it.

Prior to leading the San Francisco 49ers to great success from 2011 to 2014, there were hints that Harbaugh might return to the NFL. That will be especially true should Michigan win the entire season.

According to a prior report, Michigan was getting ready to offer Harbaugh a five-year, $55 million contract extension. According to Harbaugh, that was unaffected by the entire sign-stealing scandal that resulted in his suspension and forced him to close for the regular season.

It should raise some concerns that the aforementioned extension has not yet been signed. It is said that Michigan sought guarantees in the agreement that Harbaugh would not look for opportunities in the NFL. That won’t happen in light of the numerous cycles of rumors linking him to NFL jobs.

Given the success Michigan has had on the field, it makes sense that the football program would want Harbaugh to stay for an extended period of time, despite the drama surrounding his time in Ann Arbor.

The likelihood that Harbaugh will rejoin the Wolverines is unchanged. Next month, there will be intriguing NFL openings, including ones with the Los Angeles Chargers and Las Vegas Raiders.