Context:

The Michigan Wolverines football program has been embroiled in a sign-stealing scandal, leading to a two-game suspension for head coach Sherrone Moore in the 2025 season. This self-imposed sanction, affecting Weeks 3 and 4, is part of the fallout from the scandal which involved Moore allegedly deleting incriminating text messages with former staffer Connor Stalions. The NCAA's investigation into Michigan revealed multiple violations, pushing the university to cooperate and take preemptive disciplinary action. Moore's suspension highlights the ongoing effort to resolve the NCAA's accusations after Michigan was cited for 11 violations in 2023. Connor Stalions, a former defensive analyst, was central to the scandal and was fired following his refusal to cooperate with investigations into his sign-stealing activities at Michigan.

Dive Deeper:

• Head coach Sherrone Moore will miss Weeks 3 and 4 of the 2025 season due to a self-imposed suspension by Michigan, which is related to a sign-stealing scandal that has affected the football program.

• The suspension allows Moore to still coach the season opener and Week 2 game, strategically imposed to mitigate fallout while negotiating with the NCAA on alleged violations.

• Moore was accused of deleting 52 text messages with Connor Stalions, a former staffer involved in the scandal, which was uncovered through device imaging during the investigation.

• The NCAA's probe into Michigan's football program resulted in 11 violations, including six Level 1 violations, prompting the university's cooperation and self-imposed penalties as they work towards a resolution.

• Connor Stalions, central to the NCAA investigation, was a former low-level staffer known for analyzing opponent signals and was fired after allegedly buying tickets to scout future opponents, violating NCAA rules.

• The scandal came to light after opponents raised concerns about Michigan's potential sign-stealing practices, leading to a broader investigation into the program's activities.

• Stalions, a retired Marine Corps captain, was suspended with pay prior to his dismissal, and his actions reportedly included purchasing tickets for games at several Big Ten schools over recent years.

• The Michigan Wolverines football program is still dealing with residual effects of the sign-stealing scandal from years ago. Now, head coach Sherrone Moore will be impacted.

• Moore's second season as Michigan's head coach will get out to a disjointed start as he's expected to be dealt a university-imposed two-game suspension in Weeks 3 and 4, according to ESPN's Dan Wetzel and Pete Thamel. 

• The self-imposed sanction is yet another punishment stemming from the scandal that was investigated thoroughly in 2023.

• Here's why Moore will be unavailable for at least two games in 2025.

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• Sherrone Moore suspension, explained

  Moore will be suspended for Weeks 3 and 4 of Michigan's 2025 season. He will coach the Wolverines' season opener against New Mexico and their Week 2 visit to Oklahoma, Moore's alma mater.

• Moore will not be available to coach practice or games in Week 3 vs. Central Michigan and Week 4 vs. Nebraska.

• The self-imposed sanction gets ahead of potential fallout from the scandal while also allowing Moore to coach at his former stomping ground. Here is more on the decision from the ESPN report:

• "Moore's suspension ties back to Moore allegedly deleting a thread of 52 text messages with [Connor] Stalions, a former Michigan staffer at the heart of Michigan's alleged sign-stealing scheme," Wetzel and Thamel reported.

• BENDER: College football post-spring, post-portal Top 25 rankings for 2025

• The punishment comes less than a year after the NCAA cited Michigan for 11 violations, six of which were Level 1 violations. The self-imposed punishment comes as the university and the NCAA are working toward a resolution.

• ESPN added that "the texts were recovered via 'device imaging' and Moore subsequently produced them to enforcement staff.' Moore is accused of committing a Level 2 violation, according to the draft."

• Moore already served a one-game suspension in Week 1 of the 2023 football season but could be subjected to another punishment depending on the resolution reached by Michigan and the NCAA.

• MORE: Full list of Michigan players selected in 2025 NFL Draft