Sherrone Moore suspension, explained: Why Michigan is self-imposing two-game ban for head coach

The Michigan Wolverines football program is still dealing with residual effects of the sign-stealing scandal from years ago. Now, head coach Sherrone Moore will be impacted.

Moore's second season as Michigan's head coach will get out to a disjointed start as he's expected to be dealt a university-imposed two-game suspension in Weeks 3 and 4, according to ESPN's Dan Wetzel and Pete Thamel. 

The self-imposed sanction is yet another punishment stemming from the scandal that was investigated thoroughly in 2023.

Here's why Moore will be unavailable for at least two games in 2025.

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Sherrone Moore suspension, explained

Moore will be suspended for Weeks 3 and 4 of Michigan's 2025 season. He will coach the Wolverines' season opener against New Mexico and their Week 2 visit to Oklahoma, Moore's alma mater.

Moore will not be available to coach practice or games in Week 3 vs. Central Michigan and Week 4 vs. Nebraska.

The self-imposed sanction gets ahead of potential fallout from the scandal while also allowing Moore to coach at his former stomping ground. Here is more on the decision from the ESPN report:

"Moore's suspension ties back to Moore allegedly deleting a thread of 52 text messages with [Connor] Stalions, a former Michigan staffer at the heart of Michigan's alleged sign-stealing scheme," Wetzel and Thamel reported.

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The punishment comes less than a year after the NCAA cited Michigan for 11 violations, six of which were Level 1 violations. The self-imposed punishment comes as the university and the NCAA are working toward a resolution.

ESPN added that "the texts were recovered via 'device imaging' and Moore subsequently produced them to enforcement staff.' Moore is accused of committing a Level 2 violation, according to the draft."

Moore already served a one-game suspension in Week 1 of the 2023 football season but could be subjected to another punishment depending on the resolution reached by Michigan and the NCAA.

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