The NCAA went after Michigan’s wallet. 

Michigan received a fine of at least $20 million that could top $30 million — according to ESPN estimates — for its alleged 2023 sign-stealing scandal involving staffer Connor Stalions. 

The NCAA revealed its sanctions Friday — with Michigan quickly announcing a planned appeal — from the investigation into the drama that rocked college football, with the hefty fine stemming from the school losing postseason football revenue over the next two seasons. 

Former coach Jim Harbaugh, who led the team at the time of the alleged scheme, received a 10-year show-cause penalty beginning Aug. 7, 2028. 

Stalions, the alleged mastermind of the scandal, was hit with an eight-year show-cause penalty “restricting him from all athletically related activities” during the period, according to the NCAA’s statement. 

Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore also has been levied with an extra one-game suspension for the 2026 season opener, on top of the self-imposed Weeks 3 and 4 bans for the coming season. 

He, too, received a two-year show-cause order. 

“Over the course of three seasons, the Michigan football program committed violations involving 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 NCAA said in its release. 

“The scouting violations orchestrated by former football staff member Connor Stalions were corroborated by interview testimonies, ticket receipts and transfer data and other evidence. “ 

Michigan avoided any postseason restrictions or scholarship reductions, and the 2023 national championship remains. 

“However, the panel determined that a postseason ban would unfairly penalize student-athletes for the actions of coaches and staff who are no longer associated with the Michigan football program,” the NCAA said. “Thus, the panel determined a more appropriate penalty is an offsetting financial penalty instead of a two-year postseason ban.” 

The sign-stealing scandal came to light during Harbaugh’s final season in Ann Arbor, which culminated with a national title exit before he left to coach the NFL’s Chargers. 

The Big Ten school received six Level I violations for purported activities, according to ESPN. 

“We appreciate the work of the Committee on Infractions,” Michigan Athletics said in a statement. “But, respectfully, in a number of instances the decision makes fundamental errors in interpreting NCAA bylaws; and it includes a number of conclusions that are directly contrary to the evidence — or lack of evidence — in the record. We will appeal this decision to ensure a fair result, and we will consider all other options.” 

Stalions, who served as an analyst for the program, is accused of masterminding the alleged scheme in which he “directed and arranged for individuals to conduct off-campus, in-person scouting.” 

He purportedly illegally scouted 13 future Michigan opponents spanning at least 56 instances and 52 games during the 2021-23 seasons, and he is accused of once attending one future opponent’s game. 

Stalions is accused of buying tickets for opponents’ games and giving them to staffers, interns and acquaintances, whom he called the “KGB.” 

The NCAA stated Stalions admitted to spending $35,000 on tickets in 2022. 

Those individuals allegedly filmed the future opponents’ signals, which Stalions is accused of then deciphering for an in-game advantage. 

Michigan suspended Stalions in October 2023 when the story came to light, and he later resigned.’ 

“Regardless of whether it was Stalions or someone acting on his behalf, their physical presence at the game essentially gave them front-row seats to a key element of opponents’ offensive and defensive strategies,” the infractions panel said in its assessment, according to the NCAA’s statement. 

The committee also alleged that Harbaugh, Moore, Stalions and ex-director of player personnel Denard Robinson “each failed to meet the membership’s expectations of cooperation.” 

They are accused of trashing relevant objects and offering “false and misleading” information, with Stalions alleged to have had an intern “clear out” paper trails related to the alleged scheme. 

He’s alleged to have said during a hearing that he did not recall doing so. 

Moore is accused of deleting a 52-text chain with Stalions from his personal phone after the allegations came to light on Oct. 19, 2023, and allegedly blamed it on storage space. 

Harbaugh is alleged to have either not provided required documents or avoided interviews. 

“In short, Stalions’ multiple and repeated failures to cooperate are some of the worst the COI has ever seen,’” the panel stated, as relayed by the NCAA. 

The Big Ten previously levied a three-game suspension on Harbaugh at the end of the 2023 season, and he returned for the conference title game and the two playoff wins over Alabama and Washington. 

Other Michigan staffers at the time who received penalties — Jesse Minter and Steve Clinkscale — are no longer in the college ranks and instead are on Harbaugh’s NFL staff. 

Moore’s 2025 suspension will come against Central Michigan on Sept. 13 and the Sept. 20 Big Ten opener on the road against Nebraska. 

“I am glad that this part of the process has been completed,” Moore said in a statement. “I greatly respect the rules governing collegiate athletics and it is my intent to have our program comply with those rules at all times. I will continue to focus my attention on our team and the upcoming 2025 season.” 

The Wolverines went 8-5 last year in Moore’s first season and open Aug. 30 against New Mexico. 

Other penalties levied against Michigan include being placed on probation for four years and a 25 percent decrease in official recruiting visits.