Sherrone Moore’s exit from Michigan was not the standard transition that follows a disappointing season. It was a termination for cause, issued on Wednesday after an internal university investigation found he had engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member. The manner of his departure immediately shifted the financial conversation around his future earnings.

As of Dec. 1, Sherrone Moore’s buyout sat at $13.89 million, according to USA Today’s salary database. That figure ranked as the second-lowest among all listed Big Ten coaches, but it was still significant enough to trigger high-level internal analysis. The key question now is whether Michigan will owe any portion of it.

Terminations for cause historically trigger extended disputes, often moving toward arbitrat

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