The NCAA investigation into Michigan football and the alleged advanced scouting of Connor Stalions is in the news again.
Joel Klatt, a Fox Sports college football analyst, discussed it on his podcast Monday. He tried to make things sound bad for Michigan football, attempting to tie the departure of Santa Ono to upcoming NCAA penalties.
As Isaiah Hole of Wolverine Wire points out, Michigan has one of the largest endowments in the country. There are plenty of reasons besides football why Ono is leaving. The football program is a fraction of the budget, so get real, Joel, you sound like an idiot.
Klatt suggested "something big" was coming, and it could be "financial." He also took issue with the two-game Sherrone Moore suspension, calling it "self-serving."
However, missing two games for deleting texts that were still turned over seems insane. It feels like Michigan is trying to give the NCAA something -- a Moore suspension and recruiting restrictions -- to make this go away.
The NCAA did already push the Big Ten to suspend Jim Harbaugh for three games during the 2023 season. That was a massive punishment in its own right.
So the idea that Michigan would have to vacate wins from that season, or suffer a postseason ban, because it "wasn't punished" is ridiculous. What Michigan went through was akin to the Patriots missing Bill Belichick for multiple playoff games and still winning a Super Bowl.
No talk of postseason bans or vacating wins for Michigan Wolverines
Regardless, Chris Balas of The Wolverine reiterated again on Monday that there has been "no talk" of postseason bans or vacating wins. He does report that the NCAA wants a longer suspension for Moore. That's not surprising.
It wouldn't be stunning if a third or fourth game were added. But it's a huge leap to go from suspending Sherrone Moore for text messages to vacating wins, especially after Charlie Baker, the NCAA President said Michigan football won the national title, "Fair and Square."
Michigan also played all of its most difficult games without Stalions, after news of the scandal broke. It didn't have the benefit of the operation down the stretch and still won every game most of them convincingly.
So just because Michigan owning Ohio State or winning a national title has harmed you personally, that's not justification for the NCAA to unjustly punish the rightful national champions.