In a stunning development that has reverberated across the college football landscape, Michigan has moved to self-impose a two-game suspension on head coach Sherrone Moore for the 2025 season.
The penalty stems from the lingering fallout of the Connor Stalions’ advanced scouting scandal, which cast a shadow over the program’s recent championship success.
Michigan Shocks College Football With Sherrone Moore Suspension Decision Ahead of 2025 Season
Sources revealed to ESPN that Moore will miss Michigan’s contests against Central Michigan and Nebraska in Weeks 3 and 4, while strategically remaining available for the Wolverines’ high profile Week 2 showdown at Oklahoma.
The carefully calculated timing allows Moore to coach against his alma mater before serving a suspension that completely bars him from all team activities during the affected weeks.
Breaking: Michigan coach Sherrone Moore is expected to be suspended for two games for the upcoming 2025 season as part of self-imposed sanctions by the university in regards to the Connor Stalions advanced scouting scandal, industry sources tell @DanWetzel and @PeteThamel.… pic.twitter.com/U8Xd0LYRp7
— ESPN (@espn) May 5, 2025
The suspension centers on Moore’s alleged deletion of 52 text messages exchanged with Stalions, the former Michigan staffer who orchestrated an elaborate sign-stealing operation.
These communications were recovered through digital forensics and later provided to NCAA investigators, who reportedly deleted the same day media outlets first exposed the Stalions’ unauthorized scouting activities in October 2023.
Despite not being directly implicated in the actual sign-stealing scheme, Moore faces discipline as part of Michigan’s response to an August 2024 Notice of Allegations that cited the program for 11 violations.
Six of these infractions were classified as Level I – the NCAA’s most severe category, while Moore’s text message deletion constitutes a Level II violation according to documents obtained by ESPN.
The penalty marks Moore’s second suspension since joining Michigan’s coaching staff. The second-year head coach previously sat out the 2023 season opener against East Carolina for an unrelated NCAA compliance matter.
Now, as the program’s leader following Jim Harbaugh’s departure to the NFL, Moore becomes the face of Michigan’s ongoing efforts to resolve the Stalions controversy.
ESPN’s report highlighted the deliberate timing of Michigan’s self-imposed sanctions, noting that scheduling the suspension for the third and fourth games allows Moore to coach at Oklahoma. Moore played offensive guard during the 2006 and 2007 seasons and graduated in 2008.
Beyond the two-game suspension, Moore faces additional recruiting restrictions as Michigan attempts to mitigate potential further penalties from the NCAA.
Athletic Director Warde Manuel has publicly maintained that discussions with the NCAA have not included potential postseason bans, though the governing body retains authority to impose additional sanctions beyond Michigan’s self-imposed measures.
The timing ensures Moore will be present for Michigan’s season opener against New Mexico and the crucial non-conference clash with Oklahoma, a strategic decision that hasn’t escaped notice from observers across college football.
By serving his suspension during games where Michigan is heavily favored, the university appears to be threading the needle between NCAA compliance and competitive pragmatism.
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As the investigation nears completion, both Michigan and the NCAA are reportedly working toward a final resolution expected before the 2025 season begins.
For a program seeking to defend its national championship pedigree, the Stalions scandal represents an unwelcome distraction as Moore attempts to establish his own legacy following Harbaugh’s successful tenure.
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