Greg Sankey on hypothetically handling Michigan sign-stealing allegations: 'I don't wish that on anyone'

The ongoing situation at Michigan continues to be the talk of college football. The Wolverines are in the middle of an NCAA investigation into alleged sign-stealing violations, centered on now-former analyst Connor Stalions, who resigned Friday.

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey weighed in on Saturday during the LSU vs. Alabama game, and he was asked about how he would handle Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti’s situation. The conference could opt to punish Michigan under its sportsmanship clause, and Petitti met with UM officials on Friday.

Sankey pointed out past issues in the SEC and the conference’s bylaws, according to Yahoo Sports’ Ross Dellenger, but also noted the position Petitti is in.

Asked how he would handle the situation that Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti is faced with around Michigan, Greg Sankey says several things, including noting his own league’s past issues and his bylaws.

He also said this: “I don’t wish that on anyone.”

— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) November 5, 2023

“I don’t wish that on anyone,” Sankey said, via Dellenger.

Petitti held multiple meetings over the last few days regarding the allegations against Michigan. On Wednesday, he held a call with the Big Ten coaches. Harbaugh started out on the call to go over regularly scheduled business, but hung up to allow the others to speak freely about the situation. Then, on Thursday, Petitti spoke with the athletic directors.

His week ended with two other meetings. One was with the Big Ten presidents and another was on Michigan’s campus with UM president Santa Ono. In light of those meetings, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported the possible next steps could include some sort of punishment against Harbaugh — the most “realistic” of which would be a suspension.

The Big Ten coaches told Petitti they wanted to see the conference step in and punish the Wolverines in light of the scandal. Conference athletic directors echoed a similar sentiment, calling for action and floating the idea of a suspension against Harbaugh while protecting the players from punishment.

It’s all part of the ongoing saga, which started last month. The NCAA opened an investigation into alleged in-person scouting rules — a nearly 30-year-old rule — and it eventually led the inquiry to center on Stalions. He allegedly bought tickets to multiple Big Ten teams’ and possible College Football Playoff opponents’ games. The university suspended him with pay, initially, before confirming his resignation.

Petitti has the authority to punish Michigan because of the Big Ten’s sportsmanship cause, which is about the “integrity of competition” in the “competitive arena,” if the discipline is “standard” or “major.”

“Standard action includes a fine not exceeding $10,000 and a suspension of no more than two contests,” Dellenger and Dan Wetzel wrote. “Major action is anything exceeding those penalties and is subject to approval from the Big Ten executive board of presidents.”