ESPN analyst Peter Burns didn’t hold back after the NCAA dropped one of the harshest penalties in recent memory on Michigan football for its sign-stealing scandal.
“And least now we can finally all agree that Michigan’s title in 2023 was built on cheating," Burns wrote on X. "The NCAA, The Big 10 and even Michigan themselves admitted they cheated and broke the rules. Title tainted.”
And least now we can finally all agree that Michigan's title in 2023 was built on cheating.
— Peter Burns (@PeterBurnsESPN) August 15, 2025
The NCAA, The Big 10 and even Michigan themselves admitted they cheated and broke the rules.
Title tainted.
The punishment, first reported by ESPN’s Pete Thamel, includes a fine of more than $20 million and the loss of postseason football revenue for the next two seasons. Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore received an additional one-game suspension set for 2026, on top of a self-imposed two-game suspension for this upcoming season.
Burns later softened his stance slightly. He acknowledged the NCAA’s decision to avoid a postseason ban years after the violations occurred. “As damning as the report is that proves Michigan cheated (and purposely tried to cover it up) NCAA did the right thing by not giving them postseason ban years later. Not fair to punish current players who had nothing to do w/ the cheating. Coaches involved on the other hand…”
As damning as the report is that proves Michigan cheated (and purposely tried to cover it up) NCAA did the right thing by not giving them postseason ban years later
— Peter Burns (@PeterBurnsESPN) August 15, 2025
Not fair to punish current players who had nothing to do w/ the cheating
Coaches involved on the other hand,..
The investigation centered on former Michigan staffer Connor Stalions, who orchestrated an illicit in-person scouting operation at least 58 times between 2021 and mid-2023, targeting 13 opponents. The NCAA’s findings showed Stalions purchased tickets to games across the Big Ten and arranged for sideline signal recordings — a direct violation of NCAA rules.
Moore was cited for deleting text messages with Stalions on the day the scandal broke, while former head coach Jim Harbaugh, now with the Los Angeles Chargers, faces potential show-cause penalties. The NCAA charged Michigan with 11 violations, including six Level I infractions.
Michigan comes into the 2025 season ranked No. 14 in the preseason AP Top 25 poll. They'll open the season on August 30 against New Mexico. Despite winning a national championship in 2023, the program now faces years of financial fallout from a scandal that will forever be tied to the legacies of all parties involved.
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