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Michigan Football Program Reveals If Postseason Ban Is Expected

Originally posted on The Spun | By Andrew Gould | Last updated Mar 18, 2025 2:30 PM ET

Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel discussed the NCAA's investigation into his football program.

Last August, the NCAA sent Michigan a notice of allegations related to the school's sign-stealing scandal. The school was accused of 11 violations in connection to an alleged in-person scouting operation spearheaded by ex-staffer Connor Stalions.

Speaking to The Michigan Insider's Sam Webb on Tuesday, Manuel said the NCAA investigation remains "ongoing." He's unaware of any forthcoming playoff bans.

"I have not had any conversation about postseason bans or penalties that are coming," Manuel said. "What I can point to is that [NCAA President] Charlie Baker, when we won the championship, said they won it fair and square. That's something I can say that gives me some sense that they understand that this was a team who won that championship fair and square. I look at that, and as we move forward, we'll see how it goes."

Shortly after Michigan won the 2023 national championship, Baker said, "No one believes at this point that Michigan didn't win the national title fair and square."

In late January, Yahoo Sports' Ross Dellenger obtained Michigan's response to the NCAA's notice of allegations. The 137-page letter accuses the NCAA of "wildly overcharging" the program without proper evidence.

Dellenger said the rebuttal "vigorously" defends former head coach Jim Harbaugh, current head coach Sherrone Moore, and Stalions.

While the NCAA accused Stalions of orchestrating in-person scouting for 52 games involving Michigan opponents, the university claimed he attended just one. The school said they decoded signs legally by scouting teams on TV and game film.

"The school purports that the sign-stealing system offered 'minimal relevance to competition,' was not credibly proven by NCAA investigators and should be treated as a minor violation," Dellenger wrote.

Manuel previously said that he hopes the NCAA concludes its investigation and issues a final report "by the end of the summer."

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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