Head coach Jim Harbaugh led the Michigan Wolverines to the national championship after a dominant 2023 season, but it was a controversial title. Michigan had been accused of conducting an advanced, illegal sign-stealing operation that allowed them to know which plays their opponents were running.
On Friday, the NCAA handed down judgment on the football program for the allegations.
“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 insider, Pete 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 proceeded to follow 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, NBC’s Nicole Auerbach is reporting that the NCAA determined the Wolverines did enough to constitute 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.'”
Fans reacted to the news on social media.
“Okay so the NCAA admitted the infractions must incur a postseason ban, that other programs are incurring postseason bans for past actions, that the current head coach was involved and intentionally covered it up, but they’re just not going to do anything about it lol,” controversial and oftentimes unwell Ohio State fan B1G Ryan wrote on Twitter.
“Hilarious. Again, kudos to our rivals. They gave the NCAA the middle finger and it worked,” someone else added.
“Just a freaking liar and a cheater. I’m so glad to have a guy like Marcus Freeman as HC of my beloved team,” one fan added.
The days of the NCAA handing out the “death penalty” may be over.
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.