The University of Michigan just made its most dramatic move since the sign-stealing scandal erupted: head coach Sherrone Moore was fired on December 10, 2025. The school says Moore violated university policy by having an inappropriate relationship with a staff member. It closes a turbulent year where Michigan juggled winning football and a widening NCAA case that stretched back to 2021. The fallout now touches nearly every corner of the program.

How a three-year sign-stealing scheme unraveled

On May 5, 2025, details emerged about a coordinated plan that broke NCAA rules. From 2021–2023, Michigan staff members carried out impermissible off-campus, in-person scouting. Scouts went to future opponents’ games, took notes, and used video in ways the NCAA bans. The network was driven by staffer Connor Stalions. He bought tickets, directed people where to sit, and collected clips and signals. In 2022 alone, Stalions spent $35,000 on tickets.

The NCAA’s August 15, 2025 report said the operation reached into 52 games across 13 opponents, with 56 scouting instances in all. Investigators described a web that was big, bold, and secretive. At times, Stalions even called sideline clips “dirty film” and reportedly bragged about a scouting network he dubbed the “KGB.”

The report also said some staff tried to slow or block the investigation. It found actions that, in its words, “ranged from destroying relevant materials to providing false or misleading information during interviews.”

“If it was just a few bad apples, why were so many games scouted?”

NCAA penalties: suspensions, show-cause orders, and major fines

The NCAA leveled some of its toughest charges—multiple Level 1 violations, the most serious in its rulebook. The final picture came with a mix of personal penalties and big program hits. Michigan avoided a postseason ban, but the price is heavy.

• Sherrone Moore: three-game suspension in the 2025 season, with an additional game expected in 2026.
• Jim Harbaugh: 10-year show-cause penalty after refusing to cooperate by withholding records and skipping an enforcement interview.
• Connor Stalions: eight-year show-cause penalty for running the scheme.
• Denard Robinson: three-year show-cause penalty; he resigned in May 2024 for unrelated reasons but was still cited in the case.

For the program, there was a $50,000 fine, a hit of 10% to the football budget, and the loss of postseason revenue for both the 2025 and 2026 seasons—estimated at over $20 million. Michigan also owes 10% of scholarship costs for the 2025–26 academic year. The program is on probation as well.

Moore’s rise, the suspension, and the sudden fall

Moore took over as head coach in January 2024 after Harbaugh’s departure. He had served under Harbaugh during the years the scheme occurred. When the story broke, Michigan self-imposed a short suspension for Moore, which the NCAA later extended. The details around his role sharpened over time. He initially blamed deleted messages on storage issues, then admitted he deleted them after the news went public.

On December 10, athletic director Ward Manuel said Moore’s firing was due to a separate breach of university rules: “an inappropriate relationship with a staff member, a clear violation of university policy.” It was the final straw in a year of controversy.

“Two scandals, one season—how do you rebuild trust that fast?”

Harbaugh’s shadow over the case

While Moore became the face of the present, the NCAA tied the core of the scandal back to the previous era under Jim Harbaugh. The 10-year show-cause is one of the stiffest signals the NCAA can send. The report noted Harbaugh’s refusal to cooperate—he did not provide records or sit for an enforcement interview. That choice made Michigan’s defense harder and extended the cloud over the program.

Inside the operation: tickets, tech, and the line Michigan crossed

This was not a one-off curiosity. Over three seasons, the plan used tickets, travel, and video in ways NCAA rules clearly forbid. The use of unauthorized video equipment, the vast number of games scouted, and the coordination to catalog signals all pushed Michigan past the line.

The damage was made worse by what came next: deletions, mixed messages, and a lack of clear ownership. A staffer calling files “dirty film” did not help. The NCAA’s summary of “destroying relevant materials” and misdirection during interviews persuaded many that the problem was cultural, not just technical.

“Winning is great. But if the bill is $20M and your coach, was it worth it?”

Where Michigan goes next: Poggi, Texas, and a tightrope

Michigan named Biff Poggi as interim head coach. It’s a steadying move before the Citrus Bowl, where the 9–3 Wolverines are set to meet Texas. The team’s on-field performance this season showed resilience, but the off-field noise won’t fade overnight.

There is no postseason ban, which is a short-term lifeline. But the school will feel the budget hit, the scholarship reduction, and the loss of postseason revenue for two seasons. Recruiting will demand clarity and calm. Families will ask simple questions: Who is in charge? What changes are you making? Can I trust the program’s process?

The bigger lesson for college football

The Michigan case shows how fast a competitive edge can turn into a compliance crisis. The NCAA made clear that in-person, off-campus scouting and the use of prohibited video tools are bright red lines. When people start deleting files and giving mixed stories, the penalties get worse. That is exactly what happened here.

Moore’s firing for a policy violation adds another layer. It is a reminder that culture is not only about football or rules on scouting. It is also about day-to-day behavior inside the building. Michigan has to reset both.

Bottom line

Michigan wanted closure. Instead, it got a chain reaction: an NCAA report, sweeping penalties, and now the loss of its head coach for a non-NCAA violation. The Wolverines still have a bowl to play and a locker room to hold together. The next few months will tell us if this proud program can move from damage control to a true rebuild.

The scandal started with signals and ended with a signal of its own: winning cannot outrun accountability. Not at Michigan. Not anywhere.