The NCAA’s decision to sanction the University of Michigan football program for a signal-stealing scandal may prove to be a turning point in collegiate athletics. The penalties, delivered amid heightened scrutiny of competitive integrity, hint at a broader shift in how the NCAA intends to police its members.

Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti has appealed to the NCAA Committee on Infractions, suggesting that Michigan’s football program should not face additional sanctions related to a sign-stealing scheme. The conference believes the university has been penalized enough and is advocating for leniency.