Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti caught a lot of flak from Michigan fans when the conference punished the school as part of the Connor Stalions sign-stealing scandal. Now, however, Petitti might prove to be the school’s biggest ally.
Petitti reportedly sent a letter to the NCAA arguing against issuing further punishments to Michigan as part of the Stalions scandal, per Dan Wetzel of ESPN. That letter was reportedly read during an infractions-committee meeting in June.
The NCAA is expected to hand down additional penalties to Michigan ahead of the 2025 season. The organization charged Michigan with 11 rule violations, six of which were considered Level 1, which the NCAA labels as a “severe breach of conduct.” The committee has yet to issue additional punishments from those violations. Despite Petitti’s plea, the committee does not have to listen to his advice.
Petitti already punished Michigan for the Stalions sign-stealing scandal. In 2023, Petitti suspended Jim Harbaugh for three games. In response, Michigan sought a temporary restraining order to prevent that suspension from taking effect. Harbaugh wound up serving the suspension, but Michigan won every game during his absence, and then the Wolverines went on to win the national championship.
In his letter, Petitti reportedly argued that the suspension was adequate, and that the university shouldn’t be subjected to additional punishments for the Stalions scandal.
Following that national championship win, Harbaugh left Michigan for the Los Angeles Chargers. He led the team to an 11-6 record in his first season back in the NFL.
After Harbaugh left, Michigan promoted offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore into the head-coaching role. Moore led the team to an 8-5 record in his first season with the team.
It’s unclear whether the NCAA will hand down additional punishments as part of the Stalions scandal. The organization could consider “vacating past victories, a postseason ban, the suspension of coaches, a monetary fine or other measures,” per ESPN.
In May, the university recommended a two-game suspension for Moore during the 2025 season after he allegedly deleted a text-message chain with Stalions after the sign-stealing scandal was discovered. Those texts were reportedly recovered by the NCAA.
Since Petitti’s original punishment 2023, the NCAA handed down penalties to Michigan for issues unrelated to the Stalions scandal. In 2024, Harbaugh was suspended for a year and given a four-year show-clause penalty for recruiting violations.
He — along with Moore and the entire program — could face even more punishments depending on how the infractions committee rules ahead of the 2025 season.
