Michigan notified of NCAA allegations related to sign-stealing investigation

Michigan has received the final version of a notice of allegations from the NCAA related to an investigation into an in-person scouting and sign-stealing operation run by a member of the football staff, the NCAA and the school said Sunday.

Michigan previously received a draft NOA that included allegations of violations by former head coach Jim Harbaugh, current head coach Sherrone Moore, former recruiting analyst Connor Stalions and several other staff members.

“The NCAA can confirm that a Notice of Allegations has been distributed to the school and parties involved in the Michigan investigation,” the NCAA said in a statement. “To protect the integrity of the infractions process as the case progresses, the NCAA will not provide any additional comment on the details included.”

Under NCAA rules, Michigan will have 90 days to respond. The school could then be assigned a hearing before the NCAA’s infractions committee, though a negotiated resolution is still possible.

The NCAA investigation into Michigan’s unauthorized in-person scouting and sign-stealing loomed over the second half of the team’s undefeated 2023 season, but it didn’t stop the Wolverines from winning their first national title since 1997.

The NCAA prohibits advance in-person scouting, which it investigated to determine how organized it was and who knew about it. Records from other Big Ten schools show the Stalions bought tickets to numerous games involving future opponents and sent people to digitally record teams calling plays.

Stalions was initially suspended by the school and later resigned. He did not participate in the investigation. Stalions is expected to break his silence Tuesday on Netflix when the documentary “Sign Stealer” makes its debut on the streaming service.

Harbaugh, now the coach of the Los Angeles Chargers, has denied any knowledge of unauthorized scouting while in the program, though he could face Level 1 violations along with the Stalions.

The Big Ten suspended Harbaugh for the final three games of the 2023 regular season to punish Michigan for violating the conference’s sportsmanship policy following its investigation into the sign-stealing scheme.

The NCAA recently released the results of an investigation into recruiting violations at Michigan under Harbaugh. The coach was issued a show cause order banning him from coaching at the university for four years.

No. 9 Michigan begins its first season under Moore on Aug. 31 at home against Fresno State.

___

Follow Ralph D. Russo on https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP

____

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 all season long. Sign up here. AP College Football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football