It finally happened — the NCAA released its findings into the Connor Stalions’ sign-stealing/advanced scouting case, as well as the punishments for those involved. We’ve waited nearly two years to find out more about the evidence obtained by the NCAA and hear its ruling on Michigan’s penalties.
The NCAA Committee on Infractions (COI) levied financial penalties against the university, handed out show-causes, and even upheld head coach Sherrone Moore’s self-imposed two-game suspension, but they also tacked on a third game for him to serve in the first game of 2026.
The penalties aren’t insignificant, but they’re not the “hammer” that rivals fans expected from the NCAA, and it appears that wasn’t even on the table. On Friday, the NCAA made it clear that vacated wins are only considered when there’s ineligible competition. Norman Bay, the chief hearing officer for the COI panel, said in a press conference, “That was not a factor present in this case.”
Some rival fans haven’t exactly been living in reality for the past few years. For many, what Stalions did will forever live in their minds as the worst scandal to ever happen in the history of college football. That’s why it warranted vacated wins and postseason bans, according to those rival fans. If that’s how you saw this thing playing out, I’d be disappointed with the news today, too.
While the NCAA tried to make Stalions’ scheme a huge deal, they couldn’t really say definitively that his process even helped Michigan in any way on the field. The NCAA admitted as much in its own press conference on Friday afternoon.
If the argument is the team didn’t play by the rules, you have to follow the rules for punishments, too. The NCAA doesn’t vacate wins unless a team plays an ineligible player — that’s pretty simple. Michigan didn’t violate any of the rules that would lead to the NCAA vacating any wins.
Still, there are some that look at this report and think there is clear evidence that Michigan had an unfair advantage. I’ll look at it for what it was — Michigan broke some rules. The press release is mostly theater, as the NCAA lays out its case against Michigan. The fact the organization chose to include Stalions’ admission of his phone and other evidence being at the “bottom of a pond” was enough for me.
For those that want to call Michigan’s national championship tainted, you do you, man. I’ll sleep soundly at night and continue to celebrate the 2023 season. Each morning, I’ll drink my coffee out of my Big Ten Championship mug — I have three to choose from. I’ll rewatch highlights of Blake Corum flashing Zak Zinter’s number in the end zone and Rod Moore’s interception against Ohio State, or the defense making its final stand in the Rose Bowl, or Donovan Edwards breaking off two huge runs against Washington in the National Championship. To top it all off, I’ll suffer through highlights of the 2024 edition of The Game just to have a good laugh.