A show-cause penalty is one of the NCAA’s most severe sanctions for coaches found guilty of major rules violations. Under this penalty, any NCAA member institution wishing to hire the sanctioned individual must appear before the NCAA Committee on Infractions to justify the hire, often resulting in a de facto ban from college coaching for the length of the penalty. In this case, it not only impacts the careers of those directly involved, but also places lasting restrictions on the Michigan football program.
The NCAA panel found overwhelming evidence that from 2021 to 2023, Michigan football staff member Connor Stalions orchestrated an elaborate, in-person scouting operation. Stalions and his network, sometimes referred to internally as the “KGB,” attended games of future Michigan opponents, recording their sideline play-call signals. Over 52 games and 13 future opponents, Stalions spent nearly $35,000 on tickets in 2022 alone, collecting and deciphering thousands of signals for use by Michigan’s coaching staff. The NCAA noted that while the full impact of the scheme may never be known—due to destruction and withholding of evidence—the intent was clear: to gain an unfair competitive advantage.
The violations didn’t stop at scouting. The NCAA also uncovered recruiting inducements, impermissible communications, and a pervasive culture of non-cooperation. Harbaugh and several staff members, including Moore and former director of player personnel Denard Robinson, failed to fully cooperate with investigators—destroying evidence, providing misleading information, and in one case, reportedly disposing of a phone in a pond. Moore, now Michigan’s head coach, deleted an entire 52-message text thread with Stalions following media reports of the scandal, later admitting to the deletion.
The NCAA classified these as Level I violations—the most serious—citing Michigan’s repeat offender status and the aggravated nature of the case. Penalties included a four-year probation for the program, multimillion-dollar fines (including a $50,000 base fine and a 10% budget reduction), and a 25% reduction in official visits for recruits. Moore will serve a three-game suspension—two self-imposed by Michigan and an additional one from the NCAA.
Despite the gravity of the findings, the NCAA panel opted not to impose a postseason ban, noting such a penalty would unfairly impact student-athletes not involved in the violations. Instead, the punishment focuses on financial and operational restrictions, and the show-cause orders for key individuals.
This case has drawn widespread attention across the college football landscape, underscoring the risks and repercussions of seeking a competitive edge through prohibited means. The University of Michigan, which won the national title in 2023 with a 40-3 record over three seasons, has maintained that the impact of the sign-stealing scheme was “minimal” and that the NCAA “overreached” in its prosecution. However, the penalties serve as a stark warning: the NCAA will not tolerate elaborate rule-breaking, and the consequences for programs and individuals can be career-altering.
For more on the NCAA’s findings and the broader impact on college football, see coverage by Yahoo Sports and the official NCAA infractions decision.