This year, Sherrone Moore will be suspended two games during the 2025 football season as Michigan University’s head coach. This is one of the self imposed penalties by the university. The punishment is connected to the probe into a sign stealing scandal surrounding former staff member Connor Stalions. Moore, of course, will miss Weeks 3 and 4 of the upcoming season due to his suspension.
Games Moore Will Miss
It will be the first and only time Moore has to sit out two key matchups, a home game against Central Michigan in Week 3 and the road game at Nebraska in Week 4. In those weeks, he won’t be permitted to engage with the team in any team-related activities. Practice, coaching, and preparation are also part of It. His nonappearance in these games involves Michigan’s endeavors to flee the possibility of more merciless discipline from the NCAA.
What the NCAA Found
In October 2023, Moore deleted a string of text messages with Connor Stallions, according to the NCAA. Apparently, these messages were related to the illegal taking of play signals from future opponents. Device imaging was used to recover the texts; investigators were later given access to them. It was a Level II violation under NCAA rules to delete the messages.
Michigan has been hit with 11 rule violations by the NCAA as well. These are divided into six, of which six are Level I, the most serious. This investigation continues, and the NCAA could decide to add more on top of the punishment that the university self imposed.
Why the Suspension Starts in Week 3
The beginning of this suspension is up there with the most talked-about parts. Moore will be eligible to coach the first games of the season. That includes Michigan’s home opener against New Mexico and a game of significance in Week 2 against Oklahoma. During his college career, Moore was at Oklahoma and played there. And some believe Michigan suspended Weeks 3 and 4 of the season for the sheer fact that Moore could go back to his former school as coach.
The question has been raised as to whether the NCAA will accept the specific games that Michigan selects. In the past, the NCAA has disagreed with schools on when players can return and may differ.
Moore’s Past Disciplinary History
It’s not the first time Moore has been punished by the NCAA. In 2023 he was suspended for one game for recruiting violations. He contacted recruits then, in a time when the rules had not changed because of COVID-19. In the same breath, though, with this new case, he can be considered a repeat offender under NCAA rules, which means that in the future, his punishment may be harsher.
Michigan has since issued other former staffers similar penalties for such issues. Jesse Minter and Steve Clinkscale most recently received show cause penalties for recruiting violations. The pattern is what the NCAA is watching closely.
Moore’s Coaching Record
On its part, Moore replaced Nala Lamb as full-time head coach in 2024, after he was the offensive coordinator and interim coach for a part of the 2023 season. During Jim Harbaugh’s suspensions, he helped Michigan win a national title in 2023. Players and fans know that Moore is a well thought of figure and a strong leader for the program.
During his abscence, his leadership will be tested. Michigan will have to rely on its assistant coaches to do the bridging of those two games. With their head coach now away from the sidelines for these matchups, especially on the road at Nebraska, these matchups could be tricky.
Looking Ahead
New Mexico is the first 2025 season opponent for Michigan with a game set for August 30. Oklahoma is host to the second game on September 6. Moore will also miss the Central Michigan and Nebraska games after that. Under the school’s plan, he would return in Week 5 if the NCAA accepts it.
