Why was Sherrone Moore suspended? Explaining the NCAA's ban on Michigan coach for 2025 season

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• Why was Sherrone Moore suspended?
• Sherrone Moore suspension details
• When does Sherrone Moore's suspension start?
• Michigan football schedule 2025
• Michigan-Conner Stalions scandal timeline

The Michigan Wolverines are looking to make it back into the College Football Playoff mix in 2025. This season marks year two at the helm for Wolverines head coach Sherrone Moore. 

One thing that's especially unique about Moore's second season in Ann Arbor is that the Wolverines will be without their head coach for two games this year. Moore is facing consequences for the Michigan sign-stealing scandal from two years ago. 

Let's take a look at Moore's suspension details, what it means for Michigan this season and more.

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Why was Sherrone Moore suspended?

Sherrone Moore's two-game suspension ties back directly to Michigan's sign-stealing scandal from 2023. The former Wolverine assistant at the heart of the scandal was Connor Stalions, who became a household name in college football two years ago. 

In May, Michigan announced that Moore would be self-imposing a two-game suspension during the 2025 season. The NCAA's investigation into the sign-stealing scandal resulted in 11 violations, including six that are considered Level I. Moore was accused of deleting 52 text threads he had with Stallions. At the time of the scandal, Moore was Michigan's offensive coordinator. 

Here's more, via ESPN's Dan Wetzel and Pete Thamel: 

Moore's suspension ties back to allegations that he deleted a thread of 52 text messages with Stalions.

The alleged deletions came in October 2023 on the same day that media reports revealed Stalions was leading an effort to capture the playcalling signals of future opponents.

According to a draft of the notice of allegations obtained by ESPN last year, the texts were recovered via "device imaging" and Moore "subsequently produced them to enforcement staff." Moore is accused of committing a Level 2 violation, according to the draft.

While Moore's suspension was self-imposed, the NCAA was still investigating the matter over the summer and a final punishment was still imminent. 

In mid-August, the NCAA handed down its punishment. It announced it would be fining Michigan $50,000 plus 10 percent of its overall football budget. The NCAA also further suspended Moore for one additional game — Michigan's season opener for the 2026-27 season. 

Former Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh also received a 10-year show-cause penalty, which prohibits him from coaching in college football. 

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Sherrone Moore suspension details

Sherrone Moore is suspended for Michigan's 2025 Week 3 and 4 games against Central Michigan at home on Sept. 13 and at Nebraska on Sept. 20. As part of the game suspensions, Moore is also prohibited from coaching in practice during the game weeks in which he is suspended. That's part of a new rule passed by the NCAA in January 2024. He will also be suspended for the opener of the 2026-27 season.

Michigan is expected to open the 2026 season in Frankfurt, Germany against Western Michigan. 

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When does Sherrone Moore's suspension start?

Since Sherrone Moore isn't able to coach in the game for weeks he is suspended, the suspension will start on Sept. 7. That's one day after Michigan's Week 2 game at No. 18 Oklahoma, which is Moore's alma mater. 

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Michigan football schedule 2025

Here's a look at Michigan's full 2025 schedule. The Wolverines should win their games against CMU and Nebraska. So they'll benefit from having him back on the sidelines for some of Michigan's biggest games.  

*Moore will serve suspension

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Michigan-Conner Stalions scandal timeline

Oct. 18, 2023: Michigan receives notice of NCAA sign-steling investigation

Coaches steal signs from opposing teams during games quite frequently. What is not allowed is using electronics to relay those signs or play-calling information. The NCAA also strictly prohibits teams from sending players or coaches to 'scout' future opponents they're playing in that same year in-person. 

ESPN was first to report that Stalions was at the center of the NCAA's investigation. Stalions had been on-staff in Ann Arbor since 2018, starting as a volunteer assistant. He was promoted to defensive analyst in 2022. 

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Oct 20, 2023: Stalions suspended by Michigan

Just one day before Michigan's road game against Michigan State, the Wolverines announced that Stalions was suspended in the wake of the investigations. Michigan won 49-0 against the Spartans.  

Oct. 23: Stalions revealed to have purchased Big Ten tickets to scout future opponents 

ESPN reported that the Michigan assistant purchased tickets in his own name for over 30 Big Ten games. Over three years and across 11 schools, Stallions would forward tickets he purchased to other individuals in different parts of the country.  

Thamel and Schlabach added that surveillance video showed one individual filming the home team's sideline for the whole game. Additionally, Stallions had tickets to the Ohio State-Penn State game on Oct. 21, but they went unused.  

One day after ESPN's reporting, this video from 2022 emerged of Stalions appearing to signal to coaches and players during Michigan's game against Ohio State:

Video from last year's OSU vs Michigan game appears to show Connor Stalions who is at the center of the alleged sign stealing operation standing next to the UM defensive coordinator.

See their pre-snap interaction:

Here is better quality video and story https://t.co/aOX1HCRdmN: pic.twitter.com/Q6nNYt2t9x

— Adam King (@AdamKing10TV) October 24, 2023

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Oct. 31, 2023: Central Michigan investigating individual seen on sideline

CMU announced it was looking into whether an individual seen on the Chippewas' sideline earlier during the 2023 was Stalions:

Central Michigan is investigating if the person on the right here is Connor Stalions on the CMU sideline at Michigan State earlier this season.

AD Amy Folan: “We became aware of these photos late yesterday and we are in the process of determining the facts surrounding them." pic.twitter.com/ncazAghBbS

— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) October 31, 2023

Nov. 3, 2023: Stallions resigns from Michigan

Although initial reports suggested he was fired by Michigan, he resigned. He was also adamant that neither Harbaugh nor other staffers were aware of the scheme.  

“Connor also wants to make it clear that, to his knowledge, neither Coach Harbaugh, nor any other coach or staff member, told anyone to break any rules or were aware of improper conduct regarding the recent allegations of advanced scouting,” Stallions' attorney Brad Beckworth told The Athletic. 

Stalions also released a statement of his own, which read:

“I love the University of Michigan and its football program. And I am extremely grateful for the opportunity I’ve had to work with the incredible student athletes, coach Harbaugh and the other coaches that have been a part of the Michigan football family during my tenure,” Stalions said. “I do not want to be a distraction from what I hope to be a championship run for the team, and I will continue to cheer them on.”

One day later, Michigan defeated Purdue 41-13, and remained undefeated.

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Nov. 10, 2023: Big Ten announces Michigan violated sportsmanship clause, Harbaugh suspended for final three games

Then Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti was pretty firm in his statements regarding Michigan and the Wolverines. In a 13-page document, Petitti said Michigan gained an unfair advantage with teh scouting. 

"The goal of the scheme was to gain an unfair advantage by stealing the signs of teams that the University's football team was due to play later in the season," Petitti said. "Such misconduct inherently compromises the integrity of competition."

Although the letter was sent just one day prior, Harbaugh was suspended for Michigan's Nov. 11 game at Penn State. Moore was named the interim head coach in Harbaugh's absence. The Wolverines won 24-15 over the Nittany Lions. Michigan also won its last two regular season games against Maryland and Ohio State with Moore at the helm.

Jan. 2024: Michigan wins national title 

Jim Harbaugh was allowed to return to the team in time for the Dec. 2 Big Ten Championship Game. Michigan beat Iowa 26-0, and the Wolverines earned a CFP bid.

Michigan defeated Alabama 27-20 in overtime in the Rose Bowl semifinal, then defeated Washington 34-13 in the national title game. While the investigation was still looming over the program, it gave Michigan its first national title in decades. 

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Jan. 24, 2024: Harbaugh leaves Michigan for Chargers

The move wasn't too much of a surprise, as Harbaugh had been flirting with NFL teams throughout his Michigan tenure. Moore was named Michigan's next head coach in early February.

Aug. 7, 2024: NCAA gives Michigan notice of allegations

Michigan forcefully pushed back on the charges, accusing the NCAA of "grossly overreaching." The school also and vowing not to negotiate a resolution to the case in a letter sent to the NCAA in January 2025.

May 5. 2025: Moore self-imposes two-game suspension

Michigan self-imposed this, and there was still a possibility the NCAA would suspend him for more. 

Aug. 15, 2025: NCAA issues punishment for sign-stealing scandal

ESPN reported that the fines Michigan will owe could be more than $30 million. The NCAA chose to not issue a postseason ban or vacate any victories from Michigan's 2023 season. Stallions received an eight-year show-cause penalty.  

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