'No further punishment': Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti pens letter to NCAA defending Michigan

While the relationship between Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti and the University of Michigan has been contentious at best, he recently went to bat for one of the largest money-makers in the conference amidst an NCAA investigation into sign-stealing.

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According to ESPN’s Dan Wetzel, Petitti penned a letter to the NCAA Committee on Infractions stating that the punishment the Big Ten handed down in 2023 was sufficient and the university, particularly the football program, should not be punished further.

According to Wetzel, the letter was read during a June hearing between the committee and university leaders. Petitti was originally slated to be at the hearing but was unable to attend due to hip replacement surgery.

Shortly after the news broke that the football program was under investigation regarding a sign-stealing scheme centered around staffer Connor Stalions, Petitti levied an unprecedented punishment against the university, suspending then-head coach Jim Harbaugh for the final three regular-season games against Penn State, Maryland and Ohio State.

The Wolverines would go on to win all three games and win the 2023 national championship in the process.

The case against the university is ongoing, and a final resolution with punishments is expected before the start of the 2025 season. As part of the negotiations, U-M has self-imposed a two-game suspension for Sherrone Moore for weeks three and four of the season.

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