Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore has announced that he will serve a self-imposed two-game suspension by the university next season, as a result of the sign-stealing scandal that occurred in 2023, reported by ESPN.
Moore's suspension will cover Week 3-4 of the college football season, impacting games against Central Michigan and Nebraska. He will also be prohibited from participating in team activities leading up to those games. This suspension arrangement allows him to coach in the Wolverines' season opener against New Mexico before facing off against Oklahoma in Week 2.
In addition to the suspension, Moore will face recruiting penalties, with the possibility of further sanctions from the NCAA. A final decision on the matter is expected before the end of the season.
Moore was previously the offensive coordinator at Michigan under Jim Harbaugh in 2023 when the sign-stealing scandal involving Connor Stalions came to light. Stalions, who has since left the program, allegedly obtained opponents' sign information with the help of friends and family.
Allegations suggest Moore deleted incriminating text messages exchanged with Stalions, further implicating him in the scandal. Michigan was hit with 11 violations in a 2024 Notice of Allegations from the NCAA, with six of them classified as Level 1 violations.
According to ESPN, the text messages were uncovered through "device imaging," and Moore eventually handed them over to enforcement staff. He is facing a Level 2 violation as per the report.
In 2023, Harbaugh served a three-game suspension in connection with the sign-stealing scandal, during which Michigan clinched the national championship. Unlike Harbaugh, Moore will not be allowed to coach during practice leading up to the suspended games.
Moore previously served a one-game suspension for separate NCAA violations during Michigan's 2023 season opener against East Carolina. He also stepped in as interim head coach during Harbaugh's suspension, guiding the Wolverines to victories over Penn State, Maryland, and Ohio State.
Despite the suspension, Moore will still have the opportunity to coach against his alma mater, Oklahoma, in Norman next season.