Why didn't Michigan football get a postseason ban? NCAA explains decision

Michigan football received several punishments and fines by the NCAA for its sign-stealing scandal, but one thing the Wolverines did avoid was a postseason ban.

The penalties, announced on Aug. 15, included a four-year probation for the program, as well as various fines that in total, are expected to be around $30 million. Also included are show-cause orders to coach Sherrone Moore, former off-field analyst Connor Stalions and former Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh.

Yet, one thing the college football world awaited was whether a postseason ban would be placed, given the severity of the violations and it being done to other programs before. The NCAA did state there were "sufficient grounds" to impose a postseason ban, so why wasn't one placed?

Why didn't Michigan football get a postseason ban?

The NCAA noted in its 74-page report that since Michigan was a "repeat violator," a postseason ban was required in the case, and a multi-year ban was appropriate.

However, the NCAA determined any type of postseason ban "would unfairly penalize student-athletes for the actions of coaches and staff who are no longer associated with the Michigan football program."

Stalions resigned from his position in October 2023, not long after the sign-stealing scandal came to public attention. Harbaugh left Michigan after the Wolverines won their national championship to become coach of the Los Angeles chargers. Moore remains coach of the Wolverines, but he is suspended for the third and fourth game of the 2025 season and the first game of the 2026 season.

"Thus, a more appropriate penalty is an offsetting financial penalty," the report reads.

Instead, Michigan will have a "fine equivalent to the anticipated loss of all postseason competition revenue sharing associated with the 2025 and 2026 football seasons." 

COI representatives Kay Norton and Norman Bay were asked if a postseason ban been issued if Harbaugh was still coaching the Wolverines, and they declined to answer on the grounds it would be speculative.

Was Michigan's national championship vacated?

No. The Wolverine did not vacate the 2023 national championship they won that season, and no wins were stripped.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why didn't Michigan football get a postseason ban? NCAA explains