© Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images / © Melanie Maxwell / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The NCAA has handed down its penalty on the Michigan sign stealing controversy before the start of the 2025 college football season. Not everyone is thrilled with the punishment.
Former Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops ripped the decision during a recent interview. He says the NCAA is encouraging the behavior with its refusal to bring down the hammer.
The Wolverines made headlines in their 2023 championship season following reports of espionage. Assistant Connor Stalions is said to have attended games of future foes with the intent of illegally filming the sidelines.
That footage was then supposedly used to decipher game signals ahead of upcoming matchups.
The NCAA hit Michigan with a slap on the wrist after a long and drawn-out investigation. The most notable punishment involves a hefty fine.
Michigan receives its sign stealing penalty.
The NCAA released its findings earlier this month. Cited in the infractions are a lack of compliance, failure to cooperate, and both impermissible scouting and recruiting violations.
Stalions received an eight-year show cause while head coach Jim Harbaugh landed a 10-year ban.
Current coach Sherrone Moore will be suspended for three games across the next two seasons.
Bob Stoops didn’t believe the punishment fit the crime. He says the NCAA is encouraging cheating with its lax ruling.
“Typical NCAA, late to the party, late with everything,” he said while speaking with OutKick. “Not enough. Just encouraging people to cheat.
“In the end, that banner’s going to hang. Jim Harbaugh’s not coming back to college football, so who cares? That’s a nothing penalty. It’s cheating at the highest level, and it’s wrong.”
Stoops, like many others, pointed out the Harbaugh punishment. The coach bailed for the NFL before any punishments were handed down. He now skirts the potential repercussions with no intentions to return to the college level.
Despite this seeming like a win for the Michigan program, it is appealing the decision. It will be interesting to see if the NCAA walks back any part of its ruling.