The NCAA Committee on Infractions held its hearing on Michigan over the weekend, on Friday and Saturday.
The hearing is closed to the media. We do know that Connor Stalions, the main subject of the NCAA's investigation into alleged advanced scouting done by Michigan, showed up for the hearing.
There hasn't been any other reporting. A decision should be made public in the coming weeks/months. There isn't really a set timetable, but I would expect something before the 2025 season.
Michigan, according to media reports, has proposed a self-imposed two-game suspension for Sherrone Moore for the third and fourth games of the season. This is due to Moore deleting text messages with Connor Stalions, which were recovered and still turned over to the NCAA.
However, it's still being viewed as a lack of cooperation. And since Moore was punished under the "Burger Gate" investigation, he is being treated as a repeat offender. He didn't have any knowledge of what Stalions was doing. It hasn't been proven that any coach did, despite searches of all their phones and computers.
Setting aside all the debate about the impact, NCAA President Charlie Baker said Michigan won the national championship "fair and square." The Wolverines aren't accused of using inelgibile players, so that makes vacating wins highly unlikely.
That's been a pipe dream of the Ohio State fanbase, which is desperate for an excuse to explain away the Buckeyes four straight losses to Michigan football.
However, neither Pete Thamel nor Dan Wetzel of ESPN is predicting a postseason ban or the vacating of any wins. Even Michigan AD Warde Manuel pushed back on that.
So what will the final punishment be for all parties involved?
Predictions for NCAA investigation into Connor Stalions, Michigan football
Former Michigan football head coach Jim Harbaugh will receive another show cause. Connor Stalions and Chris Partridge are going to get show-cause penalties, too. That doesn't seem like a bold thing to predict.
Partridge, who was fired by Michigan for not following a directive not to discuss the NCAA investigation, might be able to fight back against the NCAA, and avoid a show cause, but Harbaugh and Stalions will receive them.
As far as the program in general, vacating wins would be unprecedented. So, outside of Ohio State fans clamoring for it, as if their life depends on it, it's hard to see that happening.
The news of the scandal broke early in the 2023 season. Michigan won every game after that, including four wins over top-5 teams. The Wolverines trailed in the fourth quarter once, in all of those games.
Michigan is facing six level-1 violations. However, most of them stem from a lack of cooperation, at least from the NCAA viewpoint. There is also the charge of "failure to monitor."
Yet, I'd expect a heavy fine, and maybe some recruiting violations. A postseason ban might have happened in the past, but with the transfer portal, it would be open season on the roster, and would essentially be a death penalty.
Michigan wouldn't take that lying down. It would take the NCAA to court, and probably win -- the NCAA rarely wins in court and in this case, it ran rougshod over its own rules.
So my prediction is that Sherrone Moore will serve a three-game suspension. It will be the first three games of the season and he won't be able to be around the team which is a massive penalty for deleting text messages that were still turned over to NCAA investigators.
Ohio State fans will be furious. But deep down, they know that they are really angry because the Wolverines have beaten their beloved Buckeyes four years in a row.
Nothing will ever change that.