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Michigan Wolverines
Aug 16, 2025 4:52 PM EDT
Paul Finebaum didn’t hold back on his show this week when the topic turned to Michigan football and the NCAA’s long-awaited ruling in the sign-stealing scandal. The ESPN commentator torched both the Wolverines and their fan base, saying their claims to a legitimate national championship will forever be tainted.
“The hypocrisy of the Michigan fan base is unbelievable,” Finebaum said. “They are easily among the most despicable group of overzealous fans I’ve ever dealt with. They want to act like they’ve got a legitimate national championship. They don’t. Everybody knows they cheated like bandits. Everybody knows Jim Harbaugh was a total fraud.”
His fiery words came just hours after the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions announced penalties that stop short of the postseason ban many expected.
Instead, Michigan will absorb what could amount to more than $35 million in fines, suffer a series of recruiting restrictions, and see multiple coaches hit with show-cause penalties — including a 10-year ban for former head coach Jim Harbaugh and an additional suspension for current head coach Sherrone Moore.
Jan 6, 2018; Atlanta, GA, USA; ESPN broadcaster Paul Finebaum during media day at Philips Arena. — Source: © Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Among the sanctions:
Loss of College Football Playoff revenue distribution for 2025 and 2026, projected at nearly $27 million
A $50,000 fine plus 10% of Michigan’s football budget
Four years of probation and reduced recruiting visits
An eight-year show-cause for former staffer Connor Stalions and a three-year penalty for former assistant Denard Robinson
In its findings, the NCAA made clear that a postseason ban was warranted under its guidelines. However, the committee said the punishment would unfairly harm current players who had no involvement in the violations, converting the ban into financial penalties instead.
Michigan, which won the Big Ten and the national title in the middle of the investigation, has already announced it will appeal the ruling. The school argued that the infractions committee “made fundamental errors in interpreting NCAA bylaws” and vowed to pursue a fairer outcome.
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Finebaum, however, sees no gray area. To him, Michigan’s reputation is already destroyed. “The banners won’t come down, the trophies remain — but everyone knows what happened,” he said. “This thing stinks to high heaven, and Michigan fans can scream all they want. It doesn’t change the truth.”
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Jeremy Lockett