Two years after the Connor Stalions scandal, the incident appears to be drawing to a close. Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore and the university have both withdrawn their appeals in the NCAA’s infractions case, via ESPN’s Pete Thamel and Dan Wetzel. Moore withdrew his appeal on Sept. 29, while the university withdrew its appeal on Oct. 6, per ESPN.
In August, the NCAA hit the program with a series of massive sanctions, including fines that could exceed $35 million, and an additional game suspension for Moore. By withdrawing appeals, Moore and the university open the way for these sanctions to take effect soon.
Moore served a self-imposed two-game suspension earlier this season, missing the Wolverines’ matchups against Central Michigan and Nebraska in September. Michigan assistant Biff Poggi served as an interim head coach during those games; the Wolverines won both games.
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In addition to the fines, the NCAA’s punishment includes a 10-year show-cause penalty for former head coach Jim Harbaugh, an eight-year show-cause penalty for Stalions and a 25% reduction in football official visits during this season, among many other conditions.
Stalions, a former staffer the team parted ways with amid the investigation, was accused of attending games of future Michigan opponents as part of a sign-stealing operation that may have been funded in part by a Michigan booster.
Moore and Harbaugh, who have both claimed to know nothing about the scheme, have both received punishments in the years since. After Harbaugh sat out the start of the 2023 season with a self-imposed three-game suspension, the Big Ten suspended Harbaugh an additional three games, which he initially challenged but later served in full.
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Harbaugh later jumped to the NFL for the Los Angeles Chargers’ head-coaching job, avoiding some additional punishments from the NCAA.
