The NCAA has announced the penalties for the Michigan football program due to the Connor Stalions sign-stealing case. And while at first glance they might seem relatively light, the actual fines are going to be massive.
First, let’s mention the show-cause orders. Jim Harbaugh and Connor Stalions will be kept away from the football program for ten and eight years, respectively. That might not seem like a big deal–neither is currently affiliated with the program–but there are downsides to not being able to bring back a recent National Championship-winning coach for recruiting or alumni services. Also, Denard Robinson will not be allowed back with the program for at least three years.
The NCAA determined that it would not suffice for Sherrone Moore, who deleted text messages that could have been relevant to the investigation, to only be suspended for the two games Michigan self-disciplined him for. He will also be suspended for a third game. However, the NCAA is not making him take that suspension in the 2025 season, and he can use it to sit out a cupcake game in 2026.
There are also relatively minor recruiting penalties. The big one, though, are the fines.
The NCAA didn’t simply levy a basic number for the fines. So when people see the top line amount of just $50,000, this might seem like a slap on the wrist. However, the other financial penalties are staggering. Let’s break them down:
First, the scholarships. Looking at Michigan’s data for athletic scholarships and doing some rough math, 85 football scholarships (though now up to 105 are allowed) should average to about $6 million. So 10% of that is another $600,000 in fines. And the other two fines are even bigger.
10% of Michigan’s football budget is absolutely massive. The numbers aren’t public yet, but coaching salaries alone are well over $20 million. The total athletic budget is about $250 million (last year), and football is probably somewhere in the $65-85 million range. 10% of that is looking at around $6.5-8.5 million.
Lastly, the postseason revenue. This number isn’t fixed, and it depends on several factors. The Big Ten splits up all of its bowl revenue evenly between conference members (some newer members don’t get a full share yet). Last year, between College Football Playoff bonuses and base contracts, the total number was over $160 million, or about $10 million per full-share school. In the Playoff era (before expansion), the yearly number could vary anywhere from $5-10 million. So Michigan losing two years of postseason revenue could by itself cost $20 million.
All in all, the Wolverines are probably looking at well over $30 million in total fines. No wins were vacated, but this will be the largest fine in college athletics history–by a significant margin.
This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Michigan receives massive fine from NCAA for Connor Stalions violations
Reporting by Yesh Ginsburg, Buckeyes Wire / Buckeyes Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
