NCAA makes ruling on Michigan after Committee of Infractions meeting

The NCAA has made a ruling on the Michigan sign-stealing case. The decision, which was announced on Friday, came following a Committee on Infractions meeting.

Michigan is placed on four years of probation and an additional game of suspension for coach Sherrone Moore in 2026, according to the NCAA. UM will also pay a fine of $50,000 plus 10% of the football program’s budget, a fine “equal to the anticipated loss of postseason competition revenue-sharing from 2025 and 2026,” and the equivalent to 10% of scholarships awarded for 2025-26.

Former analyst Connor Stalions – who was at the center of the investigation – received an eight-year show-cause order and former head coach Jim Harbaugh received a 10-year show-cause. Former assistant Denard Robinson was also handed a three-year show-cause, and Moore got hit with a two-year show cause. In addition, the Wolverines will see a 25% reduction in football official visits for 2025-26 and have a 14-week prohibition on football recruiting communications.

The decision comes after the NCAA’s investigation into Michigan began in 2023, when news broke of an alleged sign-stealing scheme orchestrated by Stalions. He later resigned from his position and 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. ESPN’s Dan Wetzel reported Michigan faced 11 violations, including six Level I – the most serious according to NCAA rules. The expectation was 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 is preparing for his second season at the helm following last year’s 8-5 record, though he is already serving a self-imposed two-game suspension.

Tony Petitti: Big Ten ‘did send a letter’ to NCAA

Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti also confirmed the league sent a letter to the NCAA regarding the case, which he said is not out of the ordinary in these types of situations. He did not offer further comment, though, because the process was ongoing.

“I’ll confirm that we did send a letter,” Petitti said at Big Ten Media Days in Las Vegas last month. “It’s not uncommon in proceedings for a conference office to weigh in. I’m not going to address what the contents of the letter we sent are.

“And because it’s an ongoing process, I don’t think it’s appropriate for me to comment about whether it’s enough or not while there are individuals deliberating. I don’t think that’s the right thing to do in the process.”

Michigan is preparing to start the 2024 season Aug. 30 against New Mexico. All eyes are on who the quarterback will be as Moore said he won’t make an announcement until game week.