The NCAA’s long-awaited verdict on the Michigan Wolverines’ sign-stealing scandal has finally arrived, bringing seismic repercussions for one of college football’s most storied programs. Nearly two years after the first whispers of impropriety, the Committee on Infractions handed down a slew of historic sanctions on August 15, 2025, targeting the University of Michigan’s football program for violations committed both before and during its 2023 national championship run. While the Wolverines managed to avoid a postseason ban, the financial penalties are nothing short of staggering—potentially exceeding a jaw-dropping $35 million.
At the heart of the scandal is Connor Stalions, a former staff member accused of masterminding an elaborate, multi-year scheme to steal opponents’ play-calling signals. According to the NCAA’s findings, Stalions orchestrated a network—dubbed the “KGB”—comprised of interns, staffers, and acquaintances. Over the 2021, 2022, and 2023 seasons, he purchased tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of tickets (reportedly spending $35,000 in 2022 alone) and distributed them to individuals who would clandestinely film future opponents’ sideline signals. These recordings, often captured on phones provided by Stalions and aided by a how-to manual titled “How to Steal Signs,” were then analyzed to give Michigan a strategic edge. The NCAA’s investigation documented at least 56 instances of illegal scouting across 52 games, spanning 13 future Michigan opponents.
Stalions’ efforts weren’t limited to just gathering intelligence. The NCAA revealed that he went to great lengths to cover his tracks once the scheme was exposed. In a particularly dramatic turn, Stalions admitted to throwing his phone and some incriminating film into a pond to destroy evidence. The governing body also cited his participation in a Netflix documentary as a violation of cooperation protocols, further undermining the integrity of the investigative process.
The fallout from the scandal has been far-reaching. The NCAA’s penalties against Michigan include:
• A fine equivalent to the anticipated loss of all postseason competition revenue sharing for the 2025 and 2026 football seasons, estimated to total $27 million ($6 million in 2025 and $21 million in 2026) based on projected College Football Playoff distributions for Big Ten teams.
• A $50,000 fine plus 10% of the football program’s budget (approximately $7.2 million).
• An additional fine equivalent to 10% of all football scholarships awarded for the 2025-26 academic year (over $700,000).
• Four years of probation for the football program.
• A 25% reduction in official football recruiting visits for the 2025-26 season.
• A 14-week prohibition on recruiting communications during the probationary period.
Head coach Sherrone Moore, who took the reins after Jim Harbaugh’s departure to the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers, has also been hit hard. The NCAA levied a two-year show-cause order and an additional one-game suspension for the 2026 season opener, on top of the self-imposed two-week suspension he will serve during Weeks 3 and 4 of the 2025 season. While Moore is not restricted from athletic activities, the show-cause penalty means any future college employer must justify his hiring to the NCAA for the duration of the penalty.
Former head coach Jim Harbaugh, who led the Wolverines to their 2023 national title, received a 10-year show-cause penalty beginning in 2028. This comes on the heels of a four-year show-cause order already in place for COVID-era recruiting violations. During the show-cause period, Harbaugh will be barred from all athletically related activities in college football, a sanction that could effectively end his collegiate coaching career if he ever seeks to return from the NFL.
Stalions himself faces an eight-year show-cause penalty, restricting him from all athletic activities at the collegiate level. Former assistant coaches Jesse Minter and Steve Clinkscale received penalties through separate negotiated resolutions, while former assistant Denard Robinson was handed a three-year show-cause penalty. Notably, Chris Partridge, another former assistant, was not penalized.
The NCAA’s findings also highlighted a pervasive culture of non-cooperation within the Michigan football program. Multiple staffers refused to cooperate with the investigation, with some accused of destroying evidence and providing false or misleading information. Moore, for instance, deleted a 52-text message chain with Stalions from his phone after the allegations surfaced on October 19, 2023, citing storage space as the reason. Harbaugh was accused of failing to provide required documents and avoiding interviews with investigators. The NCAA panel did not mince words, stating, “In short, Stalions’ multiple and repeated failures to cooperate are some of the worst the COI has ever seen.”
Despite the seriousness of the violations—classified as Level I-Aggravated, with Michigan labeled a repeat offender—the NCAA stopped short of imposing a postseason ban or vacating the Wolverines’ 2023 national championship. The committee explained that such a ban would unfairly punish current student-athletes for the actions of coaches and staff who are no longer associated with the program. Instead, the penalties were converted to significant financial sanctions, aligning with the NCAA Constitution’s directive to avoid harming uninvolved players.
Michigan’s response to the NCAA was vigorous and defiant. In a detailed 137-page rebuttal, the university argued that the sign-stealing scheme had “minimal relevance to competition” and accused the NCAA of “grossly overreaching” and “wildly overcharging” the program. The school maintained that there was no credible evidence other staff members were aware of Stalions’ illegal scouting activities. Furthermore, the source who tipped off the NCAA about the scheme was identified as someone within Michigan’s own campus, though the NCAA did not disclose the individual’s identity. In a twist, athletics donor Tim Smith—rumored to be the mysterious “Uncle T” accused of funding Stalions’ operation—was publicly exonerated by the NCAA’s findings.
As the dust settles, Michigan’s football program faces a challenging road ahead. The Wolverines will start the 2025 season ranked No. 14 in the Associated Press preseason poll, opening against New Mexico on September 6 before a marquee matchup at Oklahoma on September 9. Head coach Sherrone Moore will serve his suspensions, and the program will operate under the watchful eye of the NCAA for the next four years. Meanwhile, Jim Harbaugh embarks on his second season with the Chargers, and Connor Stalions has returned to coaching at the high school level.
There’s little doubt that this scandal has left an indelible mark on Michigan football and the broader college sports landscape. The NCAA’s decision not to impose a postseason ban may spare current student-athletes, but the financial and reputational costs will linger for years to come. As the Wolverines aim to turn the page, all eyes will be on Ann Arbor to see how the program responds under the weight of unprecedented sanctions and heightened scrutiny.
