There have been speculations that the NCAA might issue a notice of allegations to Michigan football regarding the alleged sign-stealing by Connor Stalions.
Chris Balas from The Wolverine mentioned earlier this week that a postseason ban could be a potential consequence from the NCAA, though Michigan is expected to contest it. There has been no indication that wins would be vacated, and following NCAA President Charlie Baker’s assertion that Michigan football won last season’s championship “fair and square,” this seems unlikely.
Setting the record straight on a lot of things out there regarding the NCAA investigation. Spoke to multiple sources in Michigan and NIL circles.
The outlook seems a lot more rosy than what’s out there currently. Here’s everything we’re hearing.https://t.co/TZO0fYOx5i
— Josh Henschke (@JoshHenschke) July 31, 2024
The discussions about severe penalties are mostly confined to Ohio State message boards. According to Josh Henschke from Rivals, the actual situation appears to be more favorable than these discussions suggest.
No concern about a bowl berth
Josh Henschke, the editor of the Maize and Blue Review, mentioned that he spoke with several sources who indicated that the Michigan athletic department is not currently worried about a potential postseason ban. He reported:
“First and foremost, there is ZERO concern in the athletic department currently about any potential bowl bans. In fact, there was some surprise that it was even mentioned. U-M has felt confident throughout the investigation as the NCAA has yet to directly link the football program with Connor Stalions’ activities. Additionally, U-M has believed that the investigation has been effectively closed for months. According to multiple sources, there have been ZERO level 1 charges related to U-M.”
While this is reassuring news, we’ll have to wait for the official notice of allegations to be issued. Michigan will have an opportunity to respond, and the NCAA could still impose penalties. The idea of a postseason ban seems unlikely since the NCAA has largely moved away from that type of punishment, which affects future athletes for past issues.
It will be interesting to see what evidence the NCAA presents, as it would be surprising if the situation with Connor Stalions rises to the level of a major violation. For now, this report offers welcome news to Wolverines fans eager to move past this scandal.
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