Indianapolis – Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti has recently made headlines by advocating for the University of Michigan in the ongoing sign-stealing scandal. Despite a rocky relationship with the school, which included a public legal battle, Petitti sent a letter to the NCAA Committee on Infractions suggesting that Michigan should face no further punishment. This letter was presented during an early June hearing.
The NCAA has charged Michigan with 11 rule violations, including six classified as Level 1, which is the highest level of infraction. A ruling is expected before the start of the 2025 season, but it remains unclear if the committee will consider Petitti’s opinion.
Petitti believes that the Big Ten has already imposed adequate punishment by suspending former head coach Jim Harbaugh for the last three games of the 2023 season. Even without Harbaugh, Michigan managed to win all three of those crucial games, ultimately leading to a national championship.
The NCAA does have options for penalties, ranging from vacating past victories to suspending coaches. Michigan has proposed a suspension for current coach Sherrone Moore for the third and fourth games of the 2025 season due to his actions during the investigation, although he has not been accused of knowing about the sign-stealing scheme.
Petitti’s willingness to support Michigan is notable, given the contentious history between the university and the Big Ten. When allegations arose about Michigan’s sign-stealing tactics, the response from the university was blunt and aggressive, declaring the Big Ten’s actions as “fraudulent” and “unlawful.” However, as the situation has unfolded, it appears there may be a path to reconciliation.
The commissioner’s new stance suggests that he feels Michigan has already faced sufficient consequences for their actions. In his earlier statements, Petitti made it clear that the intention behind the suspension was to penalize the program as a whole, not just Harbaugh. It seems that the commissioner is now ready to move forward, allowing both the Big Ten and Michigan to focus on the upcoming season.
