In response to a sign-stealing scandal that has plagued college football’s most successful team for over two years, the NCAA fined Michigan tens of millions of dollars on Friday and suspended coach Sherrone Moore for three games.
Moore will also miss the opening game of the 2026–27 season for a total of three games after Michigan has suspended him for two games. Moore was given a two-year show-cause order, but he is still permitted to continue his coaching duties and other athletic endeavors.
A $50,000 fine, a 10% fine on the football program’s budget, a 10% fine on Michigan’s 2025–2026 scholarships, and a punishment equal to the projected loss of postseason revenue for the 2025 and 2026 seasons are among the financial penalties, which are likely to total more than $20 million. In addition, Michigan will be subject to a 14-week ban on football recruiting communications during the probationary term and a 25% cutback in official visits during the forthcoming season.
The former low-level employee who carried out the scouting and sign-stealing operation, Connor Stalions, received an eight-year show-cause order. Jim Harbaugh, the former coach of Michigan, will be subject to a 10-year show-cause order after his previous four-year term expires on August 7, 2028. It will be forbidden for Harbaugh and the Stalions to participate in any athletic-related activity.
While the NCAA does not have any laws prohibiting sign theft, it does forbid colleges from sending scouts to future opponents’ games and from utilizing electronic devices to capture the signals of other teams.
Last year, the NCAA accused Moore of breaking regulations while working as Harbaugh’s assistant.
After the two ended up in court, the Big Ten dropped its investigation into the charges in exchange for Harbaugh, who left the Wolverines after they won the 2023 national title and is currently the coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, serving a three-game penalty. Moore was also charged with erasing text communications with Stalions prior to their recovery and submission to the NCAA.
Allegations that Michigan used a thorough in-person scouting and sign-stealing operation run by Stalions sparked the NCAA inquiry early in the 2023 season. He quit after the school suspended him.
In seven games over two seasons, Stalions, who did not take part in the NCAA inquiry, recently claimed to be familiar with nearly every signal used by opponents.
Last month, Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti wrote to the NCAA Committee on Infractions, arguing that Michigan’s football program shouldn’t be subject to additional punishments in connection with the sign-stealing scandal.
The Wolverines play Oklahoma, where Moore was an offensive lineman, on September 6 after opening the season at home against New Mexico State on August 30.
