After a nearly two year investigation into the allegations against the Michigan football program, the NCAA has doled out the Wolverines’ punishment. Michigan is being held accountable, but not to the level some would like.
Trojan Nation up-in-arms over ‘blatant hypocrisy’ in Michigan sign-stealing punishment originally appeared on The Sporting News
The NCAA announced Friday Michigan football will face multiple punishments following a nearly two-year investigation into the Wolverines’ alleged sign-stealing and in-person scouting.
Per USA Today:
“The NCAA has slapped Michigan with a sizable fine, handed Wolverines head coach Sherrone Moore a two-year show cause order and suspended him the first game of the 2026 season, and put Michigan on four years probation,” Craig Meyer wrote. “Michigan has already self-imposed a two-game suspension on Moore for the 2025 season.”
Many are having strong negative reactions to the NCAA’s ruling, and arguably the most criticism is coming from the USC Trojans’ faithful.
By the way, USC was punished for 7 years, 2 year bowl ban, 30 revoked scholarships, 14 vacated wins, 1 vacated title, 1 vacated Heisman, and the end of a dynasty because Reggie Bush’s parents leased a house they found from a wannabe NFL agent.
— Nico (@USC_Nico) August 15, 2025
The NCAA is corrupt. https://t.co/SWcTG8pYGr
FanSided USC affiliate Reign of Troy’s Gabriel Esparza called out the league for their “blatant hypocrisy and benefit not granted to USC” in a Friday afternoon article.
“The NCAA came down hard with a postseason ban for the Trojans and significant scholarship reductions for what was akin to Reggie Bush trusting the wrong person to handle personal aspects,” Esparza wrote. “Forget that it is widely known and established that the SEC was outright paying players for years under the table. What is particularly bothersome is the proportion of the alleged infraction to what the final verdict ended up being.”
📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
Esparza is of course referencing the early-2000s scandal involving Reggie Bush receiving payments of over $100,000 while enrolled at USC.
The NCAA found a lack of institutional control on the part of the Trojans, who received a much steeper punishment from the league than the Wolverines face now. USC lost its 2004 BCS national championship title and was banned from bowl games in 2010 and 2011. Bush was stripped of his 2005 Heisman Trophy, a punishment reversed just last year.
“To now see the same institution provide the gentlest of penalties for something that was clearly intentional and actually affected games on the field speaks to the continued bias that exists against USC,” Esparza wrote. “The reasoning, moreover, of why the NCAA decided to not issue a postseason ban should be considered that much more troubling by college football fans.”
It’s not just USC fans the NCAA has upset. ESPN Analyst Peter Burns didn’t hold back when shared his thoughts on Twitter Friday morning, and seemed to suggest the Wolverines’ should’ve lost their 2023 national title.
And least now we can finally all agree that Michigan's title in 2023 was built on cheating.
— Peter Burns (@PeterBurnsESPN) August 15, 2025
The NCAA, The Big 10 and even Michigan themselves admitted they cheated and broke the rules.
Title tainted.
The Wolverines, ranked No. 11 in the AP Preseason Poll, will travel to face the Trojans Oct. 11 (Week 6).
Category: General Sports
