The Michigan Wolverines had a dominant year in 2023, going undefeated en route to winning the national championship. However, the season was also full of controversy, as the Wolverines were accused of orchestrating an elaborate illegal scouting operation to steal opponents’ signs, allowing Michigan to know what plays the other team would run.
Now, the NCAA is handing down its punishment on the football program.
“Sources: Among Michigan’s punishments in the NCAA COI ruling, per me and (Dan Wetzel): *Michigan receives a significant fine, expected to be more than $20 million, from loss of postseason football revenue for the next two seasons,” ESPN’s senior college football insiderPete Thamel reported on Friday.
“*Michigan coach Sherrone Moore is given an additional game suspension, which is expected take place in 2026. The school already proposed a self-imposed a two-game ban for this upcoming season, which is slated for Week 3 and 4.”
Thamel followed up with Harbaugh’s punishment.
“Sources tell me and (Dan Wetzel) they’ll also be a 10-year show-cause penalty for Jim Harbaugh and an 8-year show-cause penalty for Connor Stalions.”
Now, another insider is revealing that the NCAA determined the Wolverines did enough to constiute a postseason ban.
“The NCAA says there were sufficient grounds for a multiyear postseason ban. ‘However, the panel determined that a postseason ban would unfairly penalize student-athletes for the actions of coaches and staff who are no longer associated with the Michigan football program,'” NBC’s Nicole Auerbach reported.
It’ll be interesting to see if the NCAA is ever capable of giving a program the “death penalty” again.
About Qwame Skinner
Qwame Skinner has loved both writing and sports his entire life. In addition to his sports coverage at Comeback Media, Qwame writes novels, and his debut; The First Casualty, an adult fantasy, is out now.