CFB insiders predict Michigan's national title to remain safe, claim NCAA will eye money over postseason ban

College football insiders Rece Davis and Pete Thamel are of the opinion that Michigan will retain its current national title. The Wolverines have come under scrutiny following the notice of allegations from last season, but the two ESPN analysts believe that the NCAA will likely impose a financial penalty on the program, rather than ban the team from making it to the postseason.

On the "College GameDay" podcast, Davis and Thamel discussed the implications of the Wolverines being found guilty in the sign-stealing scandal. Thamel initiated the issue and said:

“I think the fans want to know, like the people on Twitter have reacted to is, will there be a postseason ban?”

Davis didn't agree and promptly denied it. Thamel then explained why he thinks the Wolverines won't vacate their championship.

“So the vacating thing I can say with full throated confidence," Thamel said. "They take away wins when it involves players who aren’t eligible. And there are no players implicated in here directly by name or anything.

"Looking back there will be nothing. Looking forward, you could say, technically, some type of postseason ban is on the table. The actual likelihood of that happening considering Tennessee, considering the political climate, considering the NCAA has basically come out and said, ‘We don’t want to punish them.’"

Davis then had his say and pointed out why the Wolverines must pay financially for their punishments.

“That is what the punishments should be, in my judgment,” Davis said. “I’ve said this for years. What drives this enterprise? Money. What sends the biggest message? Taking away money.

"So if the NCAA wants to be taken seriously consistently as an enforcement body for college sports and college football, particularly, that needs to be the direction in which they go. Fine people. They can do the show cause thing.”

The Wolverines were accused of a sign-stealing scandal last season, with the team's former analyst Connor Stalions at the center of it all. Per reports, Stalions was accused of scouting opponents by sending people to their games and recording them. He was alleged as the mastermind who signaled their plays to give the Wolverines an advantage when they faced that opponent.

Michigan suspended Stalions in October 2023, when the NCAA began an investigation into the allegations. However, he resigned from his post just a month later.

The Wolverines went on to win the national title with an undefeated 15-0 record. However, the controversy around the team took away some gloss from the incredible triumph.

Former Michigan analyst Connor Stalions to have his say in sign-stealing controversy via Netflix documentary

Former Michigan HC Jim Harbaugh (L) and Connor Stalions (R) Source: Imagn

While Connor Stalions has been away from the limelight after leaving Michigan, he will have his say in Netflix's "Untold" series. An episode titled "Sign-Stealer" will premiere on the streaming service on Aug. 27, and will highlight the controversy around the Wolverines.

Amid the off-field issues around Michigan, the program will begin its national title defense on Aug. 31, when it hosts Fresno State.