National media react to NCAA's ruling on Michigan football

Judgment day has come for Michigan football and the ruling from the NCAA wasn't nearly as bad as some had thought. The Wolverines finally received their penalties for the Connor Stalions' sign-stealing scheme that people quickly heard about during Michigan's national title run in 2023.

The NCAA is handing Michigan:

- around a $20 million fine
- probation for four years
- an additional game suspension for Sherrone Moore in 2026 season (on top of the self-imposed two-game suspension this year)
- 10-year show cause for Jim Harbaugh
- 8-year show cause for Connor Stalions
- 3-year show cause for Denard Robinson
- 14-week probation period for recruiting

But the main takeaways? Michigan isn't vacating any wins from the past two seasons, nor are the Wolverines on any sort of postseason ban. With this all out of the way, Michigan will now start the 2025 season on a clean slate and all of its attention can be on football -- the way it should be.

Following the major announcement, there were several national media members who gave their take on social media. Here are the best social reactions we could find.

Michigan punishment recap, with @PeteThamel

* Fine of approximately $20 million tied to post season revenue
* Program on four years of probation
* Three game suspension of head coach Sherrone Moore (Game 3 and 4 of 2025 season, first game of 2026 season)
* 10 year show cause…
— Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) August 15, 2025

The NCAA says there were sufficient grounds for a multiyear postseason ban. "However, the panel determined that a postseason ban would unfairly penalize student-athletes for the actions of coaches and staff who are no longer associated with the Michigan football program."
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) August 15, 2025

It sure looks like Michigan is getting out of this with a big institutional fine, hefty penalties for coaches who no longer work there, and Sherrone Moore suspended for one more game than the school originally planned for.

No postseason ban. No vacated wins.
— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) August 15, 2025

The moment we realized postseason bans are no longer a thing was the Tennessee McDonald bags of cash case. That would have been a no-brainer in the past.

The COI has finally accepted that those types of punishments affect innocent players far more than the wrongdoers.
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) August 15, 2025

My summary of Michigan's penalties, which are mostly financial: it's a tax for being found guilty of cheating and winning a national title.

Everyone will move on. Those who were punished the worst have done just that (Jim Harbaugh and Connor Stalions).
— Brandon Marcello (@bmarcello) August 15, 2025

The NCAA report outlines Connor Stalions standing in disguise on the Central Michigan sideline for the 2023 opener at Michigan State: "Stalions attended that game in part to decipher Michigan State’s signals, but also to help a Central Michigan staff member with play calling."
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) August 15, 2025

It looks like Michigan broke the rules and got punished.

A national title being vacated would’ve been overkill IMO.

New season starts in 8 days. https://t.co/eUrAvLhyin
— J.D. PicKell (@jdpickell) August 15, 2025

People who thought there was gunna be a big hammer dropping and that something would alter Michigan football forever weren’t paying attention.

There is no way to definitively prove it their actions helped them win football games and/or how significant it was. https://t.co/mwX2TDGxcX
— Ari Wasserman (@AriWasserman) August 15, 2025

Ok, Michigan Fan was it worth it? Basically $20 million in exchange for the school’s first natty in 26 years. I think I know your answer.
— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) August 15, 2025

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