University of Michigan Football Program Penalized with Multi-Million Dollar Fines and Suspensions in Sign-Stealing Scandal
The University of Michigan’s celebrated football program has been hit with substantial fines and personnel suspensions following an extensive NCAA investigation into a sign-stealing scandal that has shadowed the Wolverines for nearly two years.
On August 15, 2025, the NCAA levied financial penalties exceeding $20 million against the program and suspended offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore for three games, including a game in the 2026-27 season. The penalties also include strict recruiting restrictions and scholarship reductions aimed at curbing future misconduct.
The scandal centers on a multi-year operation orchestrated by former staffer Connor Stalions, who illegally scouted opponents and used prohibited electronic equipment to steal opponents’ signals. Stalions purchased tickets to more than 30 games at 11 different Big Ten schools over three years to facilitate his sign-stealing activities. He resigned from Michigan in November 2023 amid the growing investigation.
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh, who left the program after winning the 2023 national championship to coach the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers, was also implicated. Harbaugh faces a 10-year show-cause order following the expiration of a previous four-year order in 2028. This effectively prohibits him from engaging in NCAA athletically related activities during this period. Stalions was handed an eight-year show-cause order, severely limiting his future involvement in college athletics.
Penalties Detailed
The financial sanctions are substantial and multifaceted:
- A $50,000 fine directly assessed to the football program;
- A 10% reduction in the football program’s budget;
- A 10% cut in available scholarships for the 2025-26 season;
- A fine equivalent to the projected loss of postseason revenue for the 2025 and 2026 seasons.
Additionally, Michigan must reduce official football visits by 25% during the upcoming season and faces a 14-week ban on football recruiting communications during the probation period.
Individual Suspensions and Investigation Impact
Sherrone Moore, Michigan’s offensive coordinator, who had already self-imposed a two-game suspension, will serve a three-game NCAA suspension and is also subject to a two-year show-cause order. This restricts his involvement with NCAA athletics but still allows him to fulfill coaching duties outside of competition.
The Big Ten Conference had previously dropped its own investigation following a settlement with Harbaugh and Moore, who served a three-game suspension in that context. Still, the NCAA’s more comprehensive probe revealed Moore’s involvement in attempting to delete incriminating text messages exchanged with Stalions.
Central Michigan University became entangled in the investigation when evidence surfaced suggesting off-campus scouting violations involving a former Harbaugh assistant who once coached there. This connection remained under scrutiny as the NCAA investigation unfolded.
Background and Legacy
The sign-stealing operations began surfacing publicly during the 2023 season. Stalions claimed knowledge of nearly every opponent’s signals across multiple games in two seasons, underscoring the depth of the program’s illicit activities. While the NCAA does not ban stealing signs per se, it explicitly prohibits the use of electronic devices and unauthorized scouting efforts, which were central to this scandal.
Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti recently urged the NCAA to refrain from imposing further sanctions beyond those already levied, indicating the conference’s desire to move beyond the episode.
The Wolverines are set to open their 2025 campaign at home against New Mexico State on August 30, with Moore’s suspension looming over the season’s early games. The scandal marks a significant chapter in the history of college football’s winningest program, potentially reshaping Michigan’s reputation and operational approach moving forward.