Wolverine Digest

Predictions about 'the hammer' coming to Michigan football fall short

Rival fans, social media accounts who predicted Wolverines would have to vacate wins resulting from in-person scouting investigation are going to be sorely disappointed
Seth Berry|
Jan 13, 2024; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh lifts the AFCA Coaches' Trophy during the national championship celebration at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024. Mandatory Credit: Junfu Han-Imagn Images
Jan 13, 2024; Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh lifts the AFCA Coaches' Trophy during the national championship celebration at Crisler Center in Ann Arbor on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024. Mandatory Credit: Junfu Han-Imagn Images | Junfu Han-Imagn Images

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Michigan Wolverines

On Friday, the NCAA announced the penalties it is placing on Michigan football as a result of the organization's investigation into the Wolverines' impermissible scouting scheme, orchestrated by former staffer Connor Stalions.

While the NCAA's punishment included a $20 million fine against the university, an added game of suspension for Sherrone Moore and show causes for former head coach Jim Harbaugh and Stalions, the sanctions likely did not live up to the expectations of many rivals fans and social media accounts who were predicting that the program would receive "the hammer" from the NCAA and have past wins vacated, accomplishments stripped along with a potential bowl ban.

Here are some of the best "receipts" from recent days of accounts on X (formerly Twitter) from people who were predicting a far worse punishment for the Maize and Blue.

For all of the fun that has been had and how much attention the saga has brought, attention can now fully shift to the 2025 college football season as the Wolverines take on New Mexico in Week 1 on Aug. 30 under the lights at the Big House.

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Seth Berry
SETH BERRY

Seth began writing on Michigan athletics in 2015 and has remained in the U-M media space ever since, which includes stops at Maize N Brew and Rivals before coming onto Michigan On SI in June of 2025. Seth has covered various angles of Michigan football and basketball, including recruiting, overall team coverage and feature/analysis stories relating to the Wolverines. His passion for Michigan sports and desire to tell stories led him to the sports journalism world. He is a 2020 graduate of Western Michigan University and is the former sports editor of the Western Herald, WMU's student newspaper.

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