Michigan NCAA sanctions explained: Who actually received punishments?

The Michigan Wolverines football program learned its sanctions from the NCAA in regards to its advanced scouting case, which includes heavy fines, suspensions and show-causes thrown into the mix. Many of the penalties revolve around a “failure to cooperate” on Michigan’s side of the investigation, and the university said in a statement on Friday afternoon […]

Michigan analyst Connor Stalions, left, next to coach Jim Harbaugh during Michigan's 31-7 win over Rutgers, Sept. 23, 2023 at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor. (Detroit Free Press)

The Michigan Wolverines football program learned its sanctions from the NCAA in regards to its advanced scouting case, which includes heavy fines, suspensions and show-causes thrown into the mix.

Many of the penalties revolve around a “failure to cooperate” on Michigan’s side of the investigation, and the university said in a statement on Friday afternoon that it would be appealing the NCAA’s findings.

RELATED: Michigan responds to NCAA ruling, plans to appeal punishments

“Throughout the investigation, Stalions, Harbaugh, Moore and former director of player personnel Denard Robinson each failed to meet the membership’s expectations of cooperation,” the NCAA release stated. “Their conduct ranged from destroying relevant materials to providing false and misleading information during interviews — including Stalions instructing an intern to “clear out” emails, photos, texts and videos related to the scouting scheme. The intern complied and then instructed a friend, who attended and recorded three games as part of the scheme, to do the same. During the hearing, Stalions stated that he did not recall telling them to delete any information. 

“Stalions also admitted during the hearing that he disposed of his phone in a pond. In a recorded phone call, Stalions said his film was also at the bottom of a pond. Additionally, throughout the investigation, Stalions violated confidentiality requirements, disclosing information related to the investigation to the public. The panel stated, ‘In short, Stalions’ multiple and repeated failures to cooperate are some of the worst the COI has ever seen.'”

The University of Michigan

Michigan as an institution will be under four years of probation with a handful of financial penalties. The first is a $50,000 fine, plus 10% of the budget for the football program. The NCAA has also prescribed a fine equivalent to the anticipated loss of all postseason competition revenue sharing from the 2025 and 2026 seasons in lieu of a postseason ban, which the committee says it had grounds to act on but chose not to punish the current student-athletes.

Another fine is proposed, equivalent to the cost of 10% of the scholarships awarded in the football program for the 2025-26 academic year.

Other penalties for U-M include a 25% reduction in football official visits during the 2025-26 season and a 14-week prohibition on recruiting communications from the football program over the four-year probation period.

Former analyst Connor Stalions

Stalions, the ringleader of the advanced scouting operation, received an 8-year show-cause order. The NCAA found that during the 2021-23 seasons, Stalions directed and arranged for individuals to take part in an off-campus, in-person scouting of future opponents.

“Stalions purchased game tickets and transferred them to those individuals, who included another staff member, interns and acquaintances of Stalions,” the NCAA said. “The network of individuals was referred to as the ‘KGB.’ While in attendance, they filmed the signal callers on the future opponents’ sidelines and then provided that film to Stalions. Using the footage they collected — which Stalions referred to as ‘dirty film’ — Stalions then deciphered opponents’ signals. Stalions and other individuals involved in the scheme acknowledged or corroborated this process. Additionally, on one occasion, Stalions personally attended a future opponent’s contest. In total, 56 instances of off-campus, in-person scouting of 13 future regular-season opponents occurred across 52 contests. Stalions’ conduct resulted in a collective Level I violation of the impermissible scouting rule that expressly prohibits off-campus, in-person scouting of future opponents.

“By his own admission, Stalions expended significant resources and effort to plan the scheme, spending nearly $35,000 on tickets in 2022 alone. Through the scheme, Stalions collected, deciphered and documented thousands of signals for use by other staff members. Record materials demonstrated that Stalions had access to prominent coaching staff members, who he stood next to during football games. Once information became public, Stalions also went to significant lengths to attempt to conceal his efforts. Those actions are accounted for by his failure to cooperate violations. The panel noted that “the true scope and scale of the scheme — including the competitive advantage it conferred—will never be known due to individuals’ intentional destruction and withholding of materials and information.” The panel went on to note that while the scope may never be known, the intent of the scheme was to gain a competitive advantage over competitors, stating, ‘Regardless of whether it was Stalions or someone acting on his behalf, their physical presence at the game essentially gave them front-row seats to a key element of opponents’ offensive and defensive strategies.'”

Head coach Sherrone Moore

The NCAA issued Moore a two-year show-cause order, where he will also be suspended for three games. Michigan has self-imposed a two-game suspension for Moore during the 2025 season, which he will serve in Weeks 3 and 4 against Central Michigan and at Nebraska, respectively. The panel also determined that a suspension for one more game would be appropriate, meaning he will miss the 2026 season opener against Western Michigan, which could take place in Frankfurt, Germany in Week 0.

Apart from his three-game suspension, Moore will also have to attend rules seminars hosted by the NCAA on his dime over the next two years. The show-cause in Moore’s case means that if he were to work at any other member institution over the next two years, he would still have to serve his penalties.

Moore was accused of deleting evidence, namely text messages to and referencing Stalions.

“Following Oct. 19, 2023, media reports of Stalions’ scheme, Moore deleted his entire 52-message text thread with Stalions off his personal phone,” the release said. “The following day, Moore deleted from his school-issued phone a single text that was part of a broader thread that referenced Stalions standing by Moore during a game. When questioned by the enforcement staff, Moore initially blamed the deleted messages on storage space, although he eventually admitted to deleting them as a reaction to the news.  “

Former head coach Jim Harbaugh

Former Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh has been issued a 10-year show-cause order, restricting him from all athletic activities during the period, which begins on Aug. 7, 2028 and concludes on Aug. 6, 2038. He is currently serving a four-year show-cause for the “Burgergate” recruiting violations case. Harbaugh is entering the second year of a 5-year contract he signed with the Los Angeles Chargers ahead of the 2024 season.

The NCAA deemed that Harbaugh violated the head coach responsibility clause and failed to cooperate by “refusing to provide necessary records or participating in an interview with the enforcement staff.”

“For the scouting violations that occurred during the 2021 and 2022 seasons, Harbaugh failed to demonstrate that he adequately promoted compliance or monitored his program,” the NCAA said. “Harbaugh is also automatically responsible for the scouting and recruiting violations that occurred after Jan. 1, 2023.”

Former staffer Denard Robinson

Robinson was issued a three-year show-cause order for recruiting violations that included limited inducements to a prospect and his family. Robinson did not respond to the notice of allegations or attend the hearing.

Former defensive coordinator Jesse Minter and former defensive backs coach Steve Clinkscale

Minter and Clinkscale agreed to negotiate resolutions for their part in the recruiting violations uncovered during the investigation. Minter sent 18 impermissible text messages to a prospect before the conclusion of his sophomore year in high school, which amounted to a one-year show-cause order that runs from Dec. 16, 2024 through Dec. 25, 2025 along with public reprimand and censure through the release of the agreement. He is currently Harbaugh’s defensive coordinator with the Chargers.

Clinkscale’s role was linked to the impermissible benefits findings with Robinson. The report states that he issued gear to a prospect while he was on campus for an unofficial visit. He also helped another prospect become verified on Instagram. Lastly, he donated $100 to a third prospect’s father’s charity golf outing while he was recruiting his son to play at Michigan.

For his actions, Clinkscale was given a two-year show-cause order from Feb. 7, 2025, through February 6, 2027. If he returns to college before his show-cause expires, he would have to serve a half-season suspension. He also received a public reprimand and censure. Clinkscale is Harbaugh’s defensive backs coach in Los Angeles.

Category: General Sports