Eric Boggs
As Ohio State gears up for what promises to be a defining 2025 football season, its biggest rival continues to be marred by scandal and instability. For the second time in three years, Michigan will enter the fall with its head football coach serving a suspension. Sherrone Moore, elevated to head coach following Jim Harbaugh’s departure, is expected to miss two games as part of self-imposed sanctions stemming from the Connor Stalions advanced scouting investigation.
According to reports from ESPN, Moore will be suspended for Michigan’s Week 3 and Week 4 matchups against Central Michigan and Nebraska. While the Wolverines open at home against New Mexico and then visit Oklahoma—a meaningful return for Moore, a former Sooner—the timing of his absence still raises significant questions about continuity and leadership. Unlike Harbaugh’s 2023 suspensions, Moore will not be allowed to take part in any team-related activities during his suspension weeks, signaling a stricter internal response to the controversy.
The situation stems from Moore’s alleged involvement in the now-infamous Stalions scandal, where former staffer Connor Stalions is accused of spearheading an illicit sign-stealing operation. Of particular note is the revelation that Moore deleted 52 text messages between himself and Stalions in October 2023—the very day media outlets first reported on Stalions’ conduct. Moore claimed in a written response to the NCAA that his decision to delete the messages was emotionally driven, stating he was “extremely angry” at Stalions’ actions and wanted to erase any association.
Nonetheless, Michigan acknowledged that while many of the text exchanges between Moore and Stalions were mundane, a number were related to sign stealing, even if not explicitly tied to the in-person scouting scheme under investigation. The NCAA has not yet handed down its final judgment, but further penalties remain on the table, including recruiting restrictions already imposed by Michigan.
A hearing before the NCAA Committee on Infractions is scheduled for June 6 and 7, and a final resolution is expected before the start of the season. Still, the drama in Ann Arbor provides a sharp contrast to the stability and momentum being built in Columbus. While Michigan navigates self-imposed discipline, ongoing investigations, and reputational fallout, the Buckeyes remain locked in on reclaiming Big Ten supremacy—and doing it the right way.
