Former Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh was hit with a 10-year show-cause by the NCAA on Friday as part of sweeping sanctions levied against the university over a sign-stealing scheme.
The NCAA stopped short of vacating Michigan’s 2023 national title, vacating any wins over the period in question, or issuing a postseason ban.
In a document released on Friday, the NCAA handed down multiple Level I and Level II violations after its investigation found “overwhelming evidence” that Michigan conducted an impermissible scouting scheme over the course of multiple seasons.
Those violations include:
An off-campus, in-person scouting scheme, impermissible recruiting inducements and communications, head coach responsibility rules, individuals’ failures to cooperate and Michigan’s failure to monitor, according to a decision released by a Division I Committee on Infractions panel. The scouting violations orchestrated by former football staff member Connor Stalions were corroborated by interview testimonies, ticket receipts and transfer data and other evidence. Those violations, along with former head football coach Jim Harbaugh’s head coach responsibility violation and most of the failure to cooperate violations, are Level I. The recruiting violations, then-assistant football coach (and current head football coach) Sherrone Moore’s failure to cooperate violation and Michigan’s failure to monitor violation are Level II.
Michigan, Harbaugh, and current U-M head football coach Sherrone Moore were treated as repeat violators. In a review of findings published by the NCAA, the Division I Committee on Infractions stated that there was sufficient evidence to impose a multi-year postseason ban, but doing so would “unfairly penalize” student-athletes for the actions of people no longer associated with the program.
Instead, Michigan was given 4 years probation and significant financial penalties.
The school will pay a $50,000 fine plus 10% of the football team’s operating budget. Michigan will pay a fine equivalent to the anticipated loss of all postseason competition revenue sharing associated with the 2025 and 2026 football seasons. The school will also pay a fine equivalent to the cost of 10% of the scholarships awarded in Michigan’s football program for the 2025-26 academic year.
The total dollar figure for the fines could exceed $20 million, according to multiple reports.
Additionally, Michigan will receive a 25% reduction in football official visits for the 2025-26 season and a 14-week prohibition on recruiting communications in the football program during the probation period.
Harbaugh’s show-cause will begin on Aug. 7, 2028 — the conclusion of a previous 4-year show-cause order.
Connor Stalions, the main figure in the sign-stealing scheme, received an 8-year show-cause order, restricting him from all athletically related activities during the show-cause period.
Denard Robinson, a former assistant Director of Player Personnel, was handed a 3-year show-cause order.
Moore also received an additional game suspension for the 2026 season on top of the self-imposed 2-game suspension Michigan had already announced. He also received a 2-year show-cause.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
