The NCAA Committee on Infractions will announce its ruling Friday in the University of Michigan's high-profile advance-scouting case, sources told ESPN Thursday.
According to Pete Thamel and Dan Wetzel, parties involved in the case were informed Thursday of the impending public release. The NCAA is expected to hold a news conference early Friday afternoon to detail its findings, potentially closing the book on what the ESPN report calls "one of the most explosive, strange and controversial cases in the long history of NCAA enforcement."
The NCAA charged Michigan and numerous staffers with 11 violations tied to a sign-stealing operation run by former staffer Connor Stalions. Investigators allege Stalions coordinated an advance-scouting scheme at least 58 times from 2021 to mid-2023, including scouting one future opponent seven times in 2022.
While stealing signs during games is not banned, the NCAA prohibits in-person scouting of future opponents. Evidence reportedly shows Stalions purchased tickets at nearly every Big Ten school to facilitate the operation.
Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore is expected to be suspended for at least two games for deleting a thread of 52 text messages with Stalions the day the scandal broke. The NCAA will decide whether Moore's self-imposed sanction -- serving the ban during the Wolverines' third and fourth games -- will stand.
Potential penalties for other former Michigan coaches include suspensions, hefty fines, and show-cause orders. Former coach Jim Harbaugh, now with the NFL's Los Angeles Chargers, could be among those facing a show-cause penalty.
Michigan, ranked No. 14 in the preseason AP Top 25, opens the season Aug. 30 against New Mexico.