The city of Columbus is still standing, even though the hopes of many of its citizens were dashed on Friday. After investigating the University of Michigan football program and Connor Stalions, the mastermind of an elaborate sign-stealing operation, for nearly two years, the NCAA opted for a wrist-slap over handing down any penalties with real teeth.
Yes, there’s a significant financial fine that could cost the Michigan athletic department upwards of $20 million. Money is real, and that’s a lot of it.
But would you spend $20 million to win a college football national championship? Of course you would. Ohio State famously spent about that much on name, image and likeness (NIL) deals for the team that won its own national title this past January. And now we can put a price tag on the one its rival Michigan won the year before.
Despite everything Stalions did from 2021 through half of the 2023 season — from the “counterintelligence” network of individuals he called the “KGB” to the “dirty film” they provided when they sent him sideline footage of opponents’ signs, per NCAA investigators — Michigan will not lose its championship trophy.
The Wolverines will not vacate any wins from that championship season. The current team won’t face a postseason ban, either. The NCAA opted against wielding the biggest weapons in its arsenal against a program that has spent nearly five years in the crosshairs of its enforcement arm. The NCAA’s Committee on Infractions did the three things it has done to rule-breakers in recent years: 1) fine the school; 2) punish the so-called adults in the room; and 3) call it a day.
Stalions got hit with an eight-year show-cause penalty; he’ll remain radioactive in college athletics. Former Michigan head coach and current Los…
Source link : https://www.nbcsports.com/college-football/news/the-ncaa-was-never-going-to-drop-the-hammer-on-michigan-wolverines-penalties-connor-stalions
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Publish date : 2025-08-15 19:13:00
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