Sherrone Moore and the Michigan Wolverines are being blatantly obvious about which game on their 2025 football schedule they're most worried about while navigating the head coach's suspension.
Multiple reports surfaced Friday morning of the NCAA's punishment on Michigan because of its sign-stealing scandal with Connor Stalions when the Wolverines won the national championship during the 2023 season, when Moore was offensive coordinator before eventually being promoted to head coach.
With these slap-on-the-wrist punishments, both from the NCAA and earlier self-imposed from Michigan, Moore will be suspended a total of three games, but the suspension evades Michigan's Week 2 game against the Oklahoma Sooners and even spans to next football season in 2026.
Sherrone Moore's suspension increased, but still navigated around Sooners
Moore's suspension is the most illogical thing in college football during the most chaotic time of the sport. First, in May, Michigan decided on a self-imposed two-game suspension for its head coach. The two games, though, were conveniently chosen for Weeks 3 and 4 of this season when the Wolverines play Central Michigan and Nebraska. Michigan just flat out ignored the first two weeks for Michigan's season opener against New Mexico and its trip to OU on Sept. 6.
Then, over three months later, the NCAA finally made its weak punishment decision. On top of probation, a puny fine and some show-cause orders mostly for coaches no longer there, the NCAA also extended Moore's suspension another game.
For some reason, that extra game will be served for Michigan's season opener next year in 2026. The Wolverines will then host OU the next week, with Moore back on the sideline.
Overall, the Wolverines were barely even put in timeout. It's like when a kid fakes an apology, so the parent softened the blow with no lesson learned and the kid getting to keep their favorite toy. Michigan still has a national title from cheating and is even still set up in the best way for this season and next.
That date with Michigan on Sept. 6 is the most important on the Sooners' schedule, at least early on. Obviously OU wants to beat Michigan at full-strength and we also don't lose the storyline of Moore coaching against his alma-mater. However, it's clear the Wolverines were willing to move mountains to have a chance against the Sooners, and the NCAA gave them the strength to do so.
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