Michigan and the NCAA wrapped two days of hearings and have left Indianapolis with no immediate resolution. But the end is near. Here is when we should expect the Committee on Infraction’s final decision on the Connor Stalions case, which has major implications for Sherrone Moore:
Following two days of meetings with the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions (COI), representatives from the University of Michigan and the NCAA departed Indianapolis without reaching a definitive resolution.
The discussions centered on the Connor Stalions advanced scouting controversy — which involved Stalions purchasing tickets to future opponents’ games and filming their sideline signals — as well as the 11 NCAA violations levied against Michigan. Six of those are classified as Level I, the most severe category under NCAA rules.
A key point of interest for Michigan fans is whether head coach Sherrone Moore will face additional penalties beyond the university’s self-imposed two-game suspension during Weeks 3 (vs. Central Michigan) and 4 (at Nebraska) of the upcoming season.
Moore’s involvement in a separate incident, known as “Burgergate,” also looms over the situation. As an assistant coach, Moore and others — including former head coach Jim Harbaugh — were investigated for violating recruiting rules during a dead period amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Moore served a one-game suspension in 2023, which categorized him as an NCAA violator.
Now, Moore could potentially be labeled a repeat offender. He reportedly deleted 52 text messages exchanged with Stalions on the day the scandal surfaced in October 2023. However, after voluntarily handing over his phone, the NCAA was able to retrieve those messages through forensic imaging.
While the recovered texts reportedly do not show that Moore had prior knowledge of Stalions’ actions, the situation remains under scrutiny. Moore, for his part, has maintained confidence in the messages’ contents.
“I’ll just say that I look forward to (the texts) being released, and that’s it,” Moore said last August.
What’s still on the table?
Potential Additional Suspension for Moore: If the Committee on Infractions (COI) rules that Moore’s actions meet the threshold for being a repeat violator, he could face further disciplinary measures, including an extended suspension.
Possible Institutional Penalties for Michigan: The university could be subject to wider sanctions beyond individual punishments. These might include restrictions on recruiting activities and other program-level consequences.
Scholarship Reductions and Financial Penalties: Although less frequently applied, scholarship reductions and monetary fines remain on the table — particularly in cases involving multiple Level I violations. Recruiting limitations are also a realistic outcome.
No Further Action: If the COI finds that Michigan’s self-imposed suspension of Moore and its full cooperation with the investigation are adequate, the program may avoid any additional penalties.
The question everyone is asking…when will we know the ruling?
While there’s no exact date for when a resolution will be announced, the NCAA states that the Committee on Infractions typically takes between 8 to 12 weeks following a hearing to issue its final decision and release a formal report. Based on that timeline, there’s hope that the outcome will be known before Michigan’s 2025 season opener on August 30, when the Wolverines host New Mexico at the Big House.
Whenever the ruling comes, it’s expected to bring closure to what has been one of the most chaotic and unprecedented chapters in both NCAA and Michigan football history.