Well, it wasn't the "hammer" that Michigan haters were expecting.
The NCAA levied several punishments on the Michigan football program, including a $20 million fine and four years of probation. They also added another game to Sherrone Moore's suspension, making it a three-game suspension. Individual punishments were extended show-cause penalties to former head Jim Harbaugh (10 years), former low-level assistant Connor Stallions (eight years) and former staffer Denard Robinson (three years).
There were also some minor recruiting penalties that will reduce official visits by 25%. But there were no scholarship reductions, no vacated wins, no vacated championships and no postseason bans. But it's still been 2,085 days since Ohio State beat Michigan.
Michigan fans, Taylor Lewan respond to the punishment with a victory lap
For nearly two years, Michigan fans have heard it all -- their "tainted" title and their "dirty" program. Well after the NCAA punishments were disclosed, it was time to clap back.
Michigan great Taylor Lewan, a former two-time All-American, compared the $20 million fine to getting a speeding ticket and added, "So basically no one found anything, all the whistleblowers are wrong. Michigan was right, and the NCAA was like, 'We've got to do something to kinda save face, and that's it."
A user on X suggested that the NCAA's biggest issue was Harbaugh speaking out against some of the archaic rules. "Just shows this punishment has little to do with the signs and more to do with Harbaugh being a pain in the NCAA’s [butt] for years (satellite camps, pushing for NIL, etc)"
Another user reminded Buckeye fans that Stallions has been gone since early in the 2024 season and Ohio State still can't win. "Ohio State needs to stop crying because Stallions has been gone for nearly two seasons and the Buckeyes still haven't beaten Michigan."
Rival fans continue to stew in their anger
You might not believe this, but not everyone's happy about the NCAA ruling. Some rival fans are even claiming that favoritism was involved.
This user here says, an alleged Michigan State fan, compares the actions to something Rick Pitino would've done and says he hopes "Michigan fans know the contempt the court of public opinion has for them". That seems a little excessive.
And why does this user on X have to bring Akron into this? Haven't the Zips suffered enough?
And this Ohio State fan wants the NCAA to give them back the 2010 national championship? The one that Auburn beat Oregon for? Ohio State got waxed by Wisconsin in the middle of the season and never got back in the title race. These fans have lost their minds.
Well it's Friday, so everyone have a good weekend and remember that the Wolverines won the 2023 national champion and tomorrow will be the 2,086th day since Ohio State beat Michigan.