When does Sherrone Moore's suspension start? Details on Michigan coach missing CMU, Nebraska games

Michigan Wolverines football head coach Sherrone Moore will lead his team into battle against his alma mater — Oklahoma — Saturday night in Norman. In doing so, he’ll become the fifth Wolverine head man to take on the school he attended, joining Gary Moeller (Ohio State), Bump Elliott (Purdue), Fritz Crisler (Chicago) and Fielding H. Yost (West Virginia).

Moore will not be on the sideline, however, when Michigan hosts Central Michigan — a school he was once an assistant coach from 2014-17 — at The Big House Sept. 13. The 39-year-old, second-year head coach will serve a two-game suspension, missing the CMU game and Sept. 20 clash at Nebraska.

The two-game ban was self-imposed by Michigan related to alleged off-campus scouting violations. Moore wasn’t charged with scouting, but he did delete text messages with one of the key members of the investigation, before eventually turning them over. As a result, he’ll miss those two games, plus the season-opener in 2026, a contest against Western Michigan that’s currently scheduled to take place in Ann Arbor but may be moved to Frankfurt, Germany.

Moore will be with the Michigan team all week leading up to next Saturday’s game against Central Michigan, up until game day. He will not be able to participate in program activities from 12:01 a.m. ET Sept. 13 through 11:59 p.m. ET Sept. 20. That means he’ll be unable to assist the Wolverines in their preparation for Nebraska.

“The provisions of this suspension require that Moore not be present in the facility where the contests are played and have no contact or communication with football coaching staff members or student-athletes during the suspension period,” the NCAA’s report stated.

“For the 2025-26 season, the prohibition includes all coaching activities for the period of time that begins at 12:01 a.m. on the day of the first contest from which he is suspended and ends at 11:59 p.m. on the day of the last contest of that season’s suspension.

“… During that period, Moore may not participate in any coaching activities, including but not limited to team travel, practice, video study, recruiting and team meetings.”

Moore has essentially declined comment on the NCAA investigation and decision, and his self-imposed suspension. The head coach was asked about the situation Aug. 12 and had this reply: “Today, not tomorrow. That’s all I’m worried about. I’m worried about our players right now. The Man Upstairs has blessed me with the ability to be here, so I’m just worried about today. That’s it.”

He’s also decided not to name the interim head coach — or coaches — during his two-game suspension.

There are multiple possibilities for Michigan coaches to fill in for Moore. Offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey and defensive coordinator Wink Martindale are the two most prominent members of the on-field coaching staff, so one of them being promoted is a possibility. Lindsey has head-coaching experience, having led the Troy program from 2019-21, but he prefers to call offensive plays from the press box.

There are others on staff with head-coaching experience, including associate head coach Biff Poggi (Charlotte), defensive line coach Lou Esposito (D-II Davenport) and wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator Ron Bellamy (West Bloomfield High School).

Moore indicated at his press conference Sept. 1 that he will reveal his interim head-coaching plan at his session with the media next week, which is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 8.