ESPN insider Pete Thamel explains why Sherrone Moore will serve one-game suspension in 2026 over 2025

On Friday, the NCAA made its ruling on the Michigan sign-stealing case. Wolverines head coach Sherrone Moore was hit with some added penalties in the process.

He’ll have to serve an additional game suspension in 2026. Michigan already proposed a self-imposed two-game ban for this upcoming season, among other punishments, which will take place during Weeks 3 and 4.

According to the press release from the NCAA, Moore’s additional third game levied against him will take place during the first game of the 2026 season. That raised some eyebrows across the sport, but ESPN’s Pete Thamel explained why the NCAA chose to operate this way during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show.

“I believe that it’s a timing issue,” Thamel explained. “Because of the timing of when this is coming down, they are moving it to next season. I don’t think that the self-imposed Week 3 and 4 was what Michigan and Sherrone proposed to them, and then this is an additional penalty, and I believe the timing of it being pushed next year is just simply because of where we are right now.

“But I don’t have a clear, linear answer on that, and I don’t think one is in the materials, at least from what I’ve seen. But it is, you know, it’s a little strange. I mean, these things are never easy.”

Michigan is set to open its 2026 season against Western Michigan in Frankfurt, Germany. That game is slated to take place on Aug. 29, 2026, at Deutsche Bank Park. Evidently, Moore won’t be making the trip.

It’s disappointing, but also far from the only penalty Michigan learned about on Friday. Thamel also reported the Wolverines will receive a significant fine, expected to be more than $20 million. It’ll stem from the loss of postseason football revenue for the next two seasons.

The decision comes after the NCAA’s investigation into Michigan began in 2023, when news broke of an alleged sign-stealing scheme orchestrated by Connor Stalions. He later resigned from his position and then-head coach Jim Harbaugh served a suspension handed down by the Big Ten under its sportsmanship clause to end the regular season.

A hearing took place in June regarding the Stalions case, and the former analyst made an appearance. Wetzel reported Michigan faced 11 violations, including six Level I – the most serious according to NCAA rules. The expectation was that a ruling would come down before the 2025 season officially started.

In the time since the investigation started, Michigan won the national championship and Harbaugh left for the Los Angeles Chargers, leading to Moore’s elevation to head coach. He’s preparing for his second season at the helm following last year’s 8-5 record.