The Ohio State football team had to play multiple games against Michigan while they were using signs illegally obtained through a sign-stealing scandal. Connor Stalions was at the center of the scandal, as he illegally scouted opponents in person.
The Ohio State Buckeyes weren't the only opponents that TTUN used these signs against. Stalions essentially scouted every single opponent that Michigan was facing for the better part of two years. It's part of the reason why Central Michigan is now being investigated after he was caught being on the sidelines.
After two years of investigating, interviewing many people, and getting Michigan's response, the NCAA has finally decided to release its findings to the public. Even more important, especially to fans of the Buckeyes, they have decided on their punishment for the university for its cheating.
Michigan gets punished for cheating against the Ohio State football team, rest of Big Ten
Michigan was fined more than $20 million as part of the punishments. That's essentially the revenue that they had made over the course of the postseasons in both 2022 and 2023. Sherrone Moore also received an extra game suspension after TTUN tried to suspend him for just two games.
NCAA penalties for Michigan:
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) August 15, 2025
- 4 years probation
- $50K fine + 10% of FB team’s budget
- fine equivalent to loss of 2 postseason $$$ (CFP/bowl)
- fine equivalent to cost of 10% of all FB scholarships
- 25% reduction in FB official visits
- 14-week prohibition on recruiting comms
Jim Harbaugh received a massive 10-year show cause for his role in the cheating scandal as well. He already had a show cause for his role in the illegal COVID recruitment he was doing. This confirms that he will never coach in college football again. He's currently the head coach of the Chargers.
Stalions received an 8-year show-cause, which pretty much ends any hope he has of ever coaching in college again, either. It's surprising that he didn't get something more than that, but this is still fairly punitive. His chances of achieving the dream of being a college football head coach are likely over. Denard Robinson also gets a three-year show-cause penalty.
Michigan also received some punishments in regards to fewer recruiting visits allowed, as well as more probation. Essentially, they got nothing close to what Buckeye fans were hoping for. There aren't even any vacated wins in the punishment from the 2023 or 2022 season.
The NCAA has officially signaled that they are a toothless organization with no threatening power. They had one last chance to show they were still in control of college football, and that era has clearly passed. If they aren't going to punish obvious cheating properly, what exactly will they do that benefits the sport?