The NCAA released its findings and punishments for the Michigan football program regarding a three-year sign stealing scandal.

The NCAA has released its findings and penalties following an extensive investigation into a sign-stealing operation within Michigan’s football program, led by former staffer Connor Stalions. The probe determined that the violations were classified as Level I-Aggravated, with Michigan deemed a repeat violator.

While the NCAA stated that a multi-year postseason ban would typically be appropriate in such cases, the panel opted for substantial financial penalties to avoid punishing current student-athletes for the actions of coaches and staff no longer with the program.

The sanctions include four years of probation, a $50,000 fine plus 10% of the football program’s budget, forfeiture of postseason revenue shares for 2025 and 2026, and a 10% scholarship reduction for the 2025-26 academic year. Recruiting restrictions include a 25% cut in official visits and a 14-week ban on recruiting communications during the probation period.

Key individuals received significant show-cause penalties:

Connor Stalions: Eight-year show-cause order.

Jim Harbaugh: Ten-year show-cause order beginning in 2028 after his existing four-year penalty.

Denard Robinson: Three-year show-cause order.

Sherrone Moore: Two-year show-cause order and an additional one-game suspension for next year’s season opener. Moore will serve a self-imposed two-game suspension this season for games 3 and 4. 

The NCAA report was highly critical of Harbaugh’s leadership, describing his program as “largely dismissive of rules compliance,” with little emphasis on following regulations and at times treating compliance as “the enemy.”

While some feel Michigan is getting a “slap on the wrist,” the days of the NCAA dismantling major programs in the new era of College Football are over. Of course, there are inconsistencies with past precedents. But Jim Harbaugh, Connor Stalions, and many others who were involved have since left the program, which helped prevent the program from vacating wins and facing a true postseason ban. 

Sherrone Moore is the last man standing and will serve three games as a result of the findings in both investigations. The findings close a chapter in one of the most controversial scandals in recent college football history, marking one of the NCAA’s most aggressive financial responses in its history.