Jim Harbaugh, Connor Stalions, Moore, Michigan CFB Sanctioned in Sign-Stealing Probe

The University of Michigan's football program has officially been sanctioned following an NCAA investigation into the sign-stealing scandal involving former assistant Connor Stalions.

"The Michigan football program committed violations involving an off-campus, in-person scouting scheme, impermissible recruiting inducements and communications, head coach responsibility rules, individuals' failures to cooperate and Michigan's failure to monitor," the NCAA said in a release.

"The scouting violations orchestrated by former football staff member Connor Stalions were corroborated by interview testimonies, ticket receipts and transfer data and other evidence. "

As a result, Michigan has been hit with the following penalties, including an eight-year show-cause for Stalions, a 10-year show-cause for former head coach Jim Harbaugh, a three-game suspension for Sherrone Moore, and a fine equivalent to the anticipated loss of postseason revenue in 2025 and 2026:

Michigan will also have to pay a $50,000 fine, plus 10 percent of its budget for the football program. There will additionally be a 14-week prohibition on recruiting communications during the probation period.

What isn't included in these punishments is more revealing than what is included, and the NCAA explained why there wasn't a postseason ban despite there being enough evidence against Michigan to levy one:

"As a result of Michigan's most recent infractions case, three parties—Michigan, Harbaugh and Moore—fall within the legislated window to trigger repeat violator status. Michigan's repeat violator status, coupled with its Level I-Aggravated case classification, is 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. Thus, the panel determined a more appropriate penalty is an offsetting financial penalty instead of a two-year postseason ban."

Michigan later announced in a statement it will be appealing the NCAA's ruling. Athletic director Warde Manuel also said in a statement it was "never our intent to be in a position where we are accused of any rules violations" and Moore said in a statement that he respects the NCAA's decision.

One person who did escape punishment in Friday's ruling was Chris Partridge, who was fired by Michigan in November of 2023 during the investigation. The NCAA noted in its report that "questions remain about Partridge’s knowledge of the impermissible scouting scheme," but added there was "insufficient information to reasonably conclude that Partridge attempted to influence a student-athlete to lie about it to the enforcement staff."

In the wake of the ruling, Partridge issued a statement saying he was "extremely grateful" for the findings.

Ultimately, Wolverines fans will surely be thrilled to see no postseason ban for the coming season. What's more, the 2023 national title was not vacated.

On an individual level, Harbaugh and Stalions were significantly punished in terms of their college football careers. It would be surprising to see either of them back with a program in any type of official coaching capacity.

However, Harbaugh is now the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers and focused on building a winner in the NFL. And Stalions is no longer with Michigan and was never someone who was seen as a realistic coaching hire moving forward after this scandal regardless of the punishment.

The loss of postseason revenue is significant, Moore will not be available for multiple games and recruiting will likely be impacted, but the Michigan football program and its fans are surely alright accepting that reality in lieu of more significant sanctions such as a bowl ban or vacating past accomplishments.

In March, Wetzel and Thamel reported the NCAA cited Michigan for six Level I violations and 11 violations in all as part of its notice of allegations. 

They also reported Moore would be suspended for the Wolverines' Week 3 and Week 4 games against Central Michigan and Nebraska, which was notable since they face Oklahoma in a highly anticipated nonconference game in Week 2.

As they explained, Moore's suspension was related to allegations he deleted a threat of text messages with Stalions on the day media reports regarding the scandal were released.

ESPN's Dan Murphy and Thamel reported in August 2024 that a draft of the notice of allegations said Stalions "scouted at least 13 future Michigan opponents on at least 58 occasions between 2021 and 2023. He directed others to scout some opponents multiple times—including one team that they scouted seven different times in 2022, according to the draft."

The notice of allegations also listed Harbaugh, as well as former staff members Chris Partridge, Denard Robinson and Stalions, as people who were facing allegations of Level I violations.

Robinson, who played quarterback at Michigan from 2009-12, was among those punished most severely Friday.

Harbaugh started his tenure as Michigan's head coach with the 2015 season and was 49-22 overall, 0-5 against Ohio State and never reached the College Football Playoff before the alleged start of Stalions' scheme in 2021.

The Wolverines then went 40-3 overall, 3-0 against Ohio State and reached the CFP three times during the three seasons mentioned in the NCAA's announcement of punishments. They also won the national championship during that 2023 campaign.