The Michigan coach, Sherrone Moore, was suspended due to his involvement in a sign-stealing scandal from the 2023 season. The NCAA investigation revealed that Moore was part of an impermissible scouting scheme involving stealing opponents' play calls. Specifically, Moore was found to have deleted a thread of 52 text messages with a former Michigan staffer, Connor Stalions, who orchestrated the sign-stealing operation. As a result, Moore received a three- game suspension—two games in the 2025 season and the first game of the 2026 season. Michigan also faced significant financial penalties and other sanctions tied to the scandal.
Details of Suspension and Sanctions
- Moore's suspension includes missing the games against Central Michigan and Nebraska in 2025, plus a game in the 2026 season opener.
- Michigan self-imposed the first two games of the suspension before the NCAA added the third game.
- The NCAA fined Michigan tens of millions of dollars, including a 10% fine on the football budget and scholarships, plus loss of postseason revenue.
- The scandal centered on a staff member, Connor Stalions, who ran a sign-stealing operation using video footage and in-person scouting.
- Other sanctions include a reduction in official visits and a recruiting communications ban.
- The NCAA also issued show-cause penalties banning Stalions and former head coach Jim Harbaugh from athletically related activities for extended periods.
Interim Coaching
During Moore's suspension, Michigan's associate head coach Biff Poggi has been appointed as the interim head coach for the games he misses.
In summary, Sherrone Moore's suspension is due to his involvement and lack of cooperation in an NCAA investigation of a sign-stealing scandal at Michigan during the 2023 season, resulting in a multi-game suspension and significant NCAA sanctions on the program.
