Thread by @MattBrownEP

I'm not normally somebody who spends a lot of time on the NCAA infractions beat, but I'm headed out of town for a few days now and have heard *a lot* about this Michigan business. Here's a quick thread of what I'm hearing and my big Qs moving forward:

For one, I've heard basically the exact thing WaPo reported earlier about a third-party law firm/risk management company (based outside of the B1G footprint) investigating Michigan's operation for an extended period, and then turned over a file to the NCAA. Video, audio, etc.

I don't think it's very likely that these guys hacked computers, tapped phones, etc but there would be plenty of other ways for them to get video footage, including potential video that Stallions (or his agents) took. There's also stadium surveillance footage, etc

I had originally wondered if gambling related issues were a core part of the investigation. I've been told by several folks I trust that isn't the case. Michigan bets wouldn't represent a major liability for a book, there's no evidence of gambling irregularities, etc

My understanding is that it is *highly* unlikely the NCAA does anything meaningful before the national title game. The investigations process doesn't allow for quick turnarounds like that, Michigan would have time to respond, etc. Hard to see a path towards like, some instant ban

But the Big Ten, or potentially Michigan themselves, *could* decide to do something much sooner. If something happens to Harbaugh, major Michigan coaches or anybody else *this season*, it probably won't be coming from Indy

I'm very curious as to who paid for the initial investigation! I don't know if that information will ever come out, but I personally think that's more interesting than just about anything else related to what Michigan allegedly did

I legit do not know how any of this ends either. There's not much of a historical precedent. I don't think anybody REALLY knows how Petitti or B1G HQ will respond to this type of event so early in his tenure. Feel like everything, from "nothing" to "Harbaugh quits" is POSSIBLE

Anyway, I have a sneaking suspicion this story isn't going to linger on for the next six months. But hey, I'm just the guy who writes about video game development, NIL, and CAA realignment rumors. I've been wrong before.