The outcome for the Michigan sign stealing scandal have finally been revealed, as the NCAA finally brings the hammer down on the Wolverines. The scandal was revealed in 2023, and the NCAA has been investigating the incident for almost two years now, though the two people who should have been punished the most are already gone from the organization.
This meant that the school and head coach Sherrone Moore, who was the offensive coordinator at that time, are the ones taking the brunt of the punishment as they are still in the NCAA. ESPN’s Pete Thamel has revealed what the consequences will be for Moore and Michigan:
- The football program will be fined $50,000 plus 10% of their budget.
- Another fine that is equal to the anticipated loss of all postseason competition revenue shared with 2025 and 2026 football seasons
- Another fine equal to the cost of 10% if the scholarships awarded to the program during the 2025-2026 season
- 25% reduction to official visits during the 2025-2026 season
- 14-week recruiting communications probation
In addition, sign stealing mastermind Connor Stalions, who left the program shortly after the scandal broke, will have an eight-year show-cause order that restricts him from all athletically related activities. Meanwhile, former head coach Jim Harbaugh, who left in 2024 to coach the LA Rams, was given a 10-year show cause order that begins Aug. 7.
Denard Robinson was given a three-year show cause order that also restricts him from all athletically related activities, while current Wolverines head coach Sherrone Moore will be receiving a two-year show cause order that suspends him from a total of three games. He is, however, not prohibited from coaching.
Full Michigan punishments here. pic.twitter.com/DPcGYiYM6A
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) August 15, 2025
Moore’s three-game suspension will include the two-game suspension Michigan has already imposed on him and he will also be suspended for the first game of the 2026-2027 season.
How Was Sherrone Moore Connected to the Michigan Sign Stealing Scandal?
With Connor Stalions already gone from the program, and Jim Harbaugh already coaching in the NFL, the spotlight went to head coach Sherrone Moore, the Michigan OC at that time. While the role of Harbaugh and Stalions have been widely talked about, what role did Moore have?
There is evidence that Moore may have known about Stalions paying people to spy on upcoming opponents between 2021 and 2023, as he has been accused of deleting 52 text messages between him and the alleged mastermind, who was the defensive analyst for the Wolverines at that time.
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