1. Overblown Hysteria

The entire Connor Stalions saga felt more like a media-driven spectacle than a legitimate threat. Opponents of the Wolverines, many of whom had been waiting years to see the program stumble, latched onto every rumor, with anonymous coaches taking shots at the Wolverines. Some national voices (Paul Finebaum) even compared the alleged infractions to some of the biggest scandals in national history.

However, when it comes time for action, the NCAA is doing what it always does. That is, moving at a glacial pace with little transparency. Well, guess what, Michigan football broke the standard of how the NCAA does things by leaking documents. The Wolverines are prepared to, and will, go to court if this doesn’t play out to their liking.

2. Would Michigan Actually Sue?

While Michigan prefers to avoid legal battles, the university showed it wasn’t afraid to stand its ground after Jim Harbaugh was suspended in 2023. If the NCAA hands down disproportionate penalties, Michigan could file an injunction to block them, forcing the NCAA into a prolonged legal fight. Given the NCAA’s current instability, it may not have the legal muscle to win, especially following the NIL disputes. At the end of the day, Michigan has the resources, legal backing, and recent court trends on its side.

3. A Nail in the Coffin

The NCAA has been losing power for years, and if it tries to punish Michigan football harshly, it could accelerate its own demise. The organization is already teetering with court rulings chipping away at its authority, member schools increasingly ignoring its outdated regulations, and the rise of NIL fundamentally changing college sports. A drawn-out battle with Michigan could be the final push toward irrelevance.

Recent legal rulings have shown that the NCAA’s monopoly over college athletics is crumbling. The Supreme Court’s unanimous decision in NCAA v. Alston (2021) made it clear that the organization can no longer impose arbitrary restrictions without facing legal consequences. If Michigan takes the NCAA to court over enforcement inconsistencies or a lack of due process, it wouldn’t just be fighting for itself, it could be setting a precedent that makes future NCAA enforcement nearly impossible.

The reality is that the power in college football no longer rests with the NCAA. The sport is evolving toward a more professional model, where the power lies with conferences, TV networks, and the College Football Playoff committee. If Michigan football fights back and wins, it could be the last major program to challenge NCAA authority, because by then, the NCAA’s authority might not exist anymore.