Michigan, Sherrone Moore won’t appeal $30 million fine in Connor Stalions investigation

Michigan and coach Sherrone Moore are not moving forward with their appeals of the NCAA’s ruling in the Connor Stalions impermissible scouting investigation, NCAA records show.

Moore, Stalions and the university filed notices stating their intent to appeal after the Committee on Infractions issued its ruling in August. The NCAA’s infractions dashboard shows that Moore withdrew his notice of intent Sept. 29 and Michigan withdrew its notice Oct. 6. Stalions filed his appeal Oct. 3.

“After careful consideration of the prolonged impact of an appeal on Michigan and our student athletes, we have withdrawn our appeal of the NCAA’s infractions decision and penalties,” Michigan spokesperson Dave Ablauf said.

Michigan could end up paying fines of more than $30 million, a sum that includes the loss of postseason revenue the next two years and a fine equivalent to 10 percent of the program’s budget. Moore was suspended for the 2026 season opener in addition to a two-game suspension he served earlier this year, and Stalions was given an eight-year show-cause penalty that discourages NCAA schools from hiring him.

At the time of the ruling, Michigan alleged “fundamental errors in interpreting NCAA bylaws” and claimed the ruling included “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,” the school said in its statement.

A program spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment Monday.

The COI found that Stalions, a former Michigan staffer, engaged in a sign-stealing scheme that “implicated critical pillars of integrity and fair play of college athletics” by recruiting accomplices to film video footage of opposing teams’ signals from the stands. Stalions, who resigned in 2023, collected footage from 52 games involving 13 opponents during the 2021, 2022 and 2023 seasons.

Michigan won the national championship in the 2023 season.