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Report: Big Ten's Tony Petitti asks for no new penalties for Michigan

Chris Balasby: Chris Balas07/21/25Balas_Wolverine
Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti speaks to the media during Big 10 football media days at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports
Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti speaks to the media during Big 10 football media days at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Goddin-USA TODAY Sports

Michigan went in front of the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions last month to defend itself in the sign stealing saga involving former Connor Stalions. The Wolverines reportedly got help from a source many fans believed was an adversary in 2023 — Big Ten Commissioner Tony Pettiti.

Per ESPN, Petitti has sent a letter to the NCAA Committee on Infractions arguing that Michigan deserved no further punishment in a case focusing on the actions of former staffer Stalions. The letter was read at the hearing in Indianapolis, one Petitti would have reportedly attended had he not been recovering from hip replacement surgery.

Petitti was at the forefront in suspending former U-M head coach Jim Harbaugh the last three games of the regular season in 2023, including the Penn State and Ohio State games. The Wolverines won them anyway, capturing a national title and a perfect 15-0 record. Petitti was booed loudly by Michigan fans during the Big Ten championship win following a 26-0 victory over Iowa.

As ESPN reports, Petitti’s Nov. 10, 2023 letter to Michigan athletics director Warde Manuel “laid out the Harbaugh suspension by arguing that ‘the integrity of competition is the backbone of any sports conference or league.’ He noted that ‘taking immediate action is appropriate and necessary,’ but Michigan disagreed and argued for due process and filed for a temporary restraining order in Washtenaw County to allow Harbuagh to coach. There was no evidence, they argues, that Harbaugh had knowledge of Stalions’ actions.

But Petitti fought back and argued that the punishment was against the university, not Harbaugh. And when new evidence of wrongdoing was supposedly presented, Michigan backed down. The coach, of course, returned to lead the Wolverines to the title with wins over Alabama and Washington.

Petitti also suggested that “additional disciplinary actions may be necessary or appropriate if [the NCAA or Big Ten] receives additional information concerning the scope and knowledge of, or participation in, the impermissible scheme.” As ESPN noted, “that Petitti is now suggesting that Michigan has paid its penance suggests no such additional information has emerged.” That appears to bode well for the Wolverines with the NCAA punishment on tap. As we’ve reported several times, the NCAA’s focus appears to be on head coach Sherrone Moore and suspending him for an allotment of games for deleting reportedly innocuous texts with Stalions.

As previously reported, U-M brass has proposed suspending Moore for the Central Michigan and Nebraska games in addition to possible recruiting restrictions for Moore this year. Moore’s attorneys had been working on a resolution with the NCAA but couldn’t find common ground before the meeting with the COI.

Watch for more on this story in the days to come …

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