Big Ten is unlikely to punish Michigan football before NCAA

Bruce Feldman, one of the most well-known insiders in college football says that Michigan football isn’t likely to be punished this season by Big Ten. 

Everyone in college fooball seems to be talking about the Michigan football sign-stealing scandal. Seemingly everyone is weighing in, including Bruce Feldman a top college football insider.

Feldman joined the Rich Eisen show on Thursday and talked about the Michigan football scandal which has rival schools calling for immediate punishment. Some on social media have even suggested that Michigan deserves the death penalty.

The problem for all the haters is that the NCAA investigation is unlikely to impact this season. It was reported on Thursday by Chris Balas of The Wolverine that Michigan football has a 99 percent chance of playing out the season.

That’s because the NCAA is still in the early stages of this investigation. It also has to provide a notice of allegations and Michigan would get 90 days to respond. Therefore, this is unlikely to be resolved before the conclusion of the 2023 season.

Fans have also been clamoring for the Big Ten to do something, such as banning Michigan footbal from taking part in the Big Ten championship game.

Yet, Bruce Feldman doesn’t see that happening either. Here’s what he said on the Rich Eisen Show via On3:

"“I would be surprised if it was Big Ten,” Feldman said. “Because from what I’d heard, I don’t know how much the Big Ten has. Whereas the NCAA may be out in front of this a little more. I just would be surprised if the Big Ten was going to shut down a flagship program like that.”"

I’m not saying that Michigan football is completely innocent here. It’s pretty clear some rules were violated, but I don’t see anything that rises to the level of major punishment or a postseason ban.

We’ll have to wait and see how it all plays out but it doesn’t seem likely that the Big Ten will up and cancel the season before the Big Ten title game for Michigan.