Michigan sign-stealing updates: Latest news in NCAA investigation into Jim Harbaugh's team
Jim Harbaugh's Michigan football team is being investigated by the NCAA for a massive scandal that involves unauthorized scouting and illicit recording of opposing sidelines. The school has already suspended staffer Connor Stalions, the analyst central to the alleged sign-stealing scandal, but the story has taken on a life of its own since being broken Oct. 19 by Yahoo Sports.
In the week that has followed, many high-profile coaches have been asked if they were aware of the Michigan Wolverines' operation. Moreover, reports of hard evidence found on Michigan's computers and via stadium surveillance has raised questions as to how involved the football team was in the alleged operation.
This is all in the midst of a dream season for the No. 2 Wolverines, who have dominated every team they've played en route to an 8-0 (5-0 Big Ten) record so far this year. It's also in the wake of a 49-0 walloping of their in-state rivals Michigan State. With the Wolverines on bye in Week 9, talk of the allegations will only continue to roil until Michigan's next game against Purdue on Nov. 4.
Per reports, sources at 12 different Big Ten schools have confirmed through ticket sales tracking that Stalions bought tickets to their games since 2021 under his own name. He also reportedly got tickets to potential College Football Playoff opponents' games, per Yahoo Sports.
REQUIRED READING: Sign-stealing investigation, explained: Can NCAA penalize U-M football?
One of the fascinating angles of the story is the sheer firehose of information that has been disseminated since news of the allegations broke. As this story continues to develop, here are all the latest updates to the Ann Arbor saga:
Latest updates on Michigan sign-stealing scandal
The FBI joined investigations into Matt Weiss months ago
Date: Thursday, Oct. 26
Source: Detroit Free Press
Former Michigan co-offensive coordinator Matt Weiss is a bit player of sorts in this scandal. Weiss was placed on leave and subsequently fired by the university after U-M police got reports of computer access crimes in Schembechler Hall from Dec. 21-23. It was confirmed the FBI has been working with U-M police for months to uncover Weiss' role in the reported breach.
NCAA enforcement team at University of Michigan to investigate
Date: Thursday, Oct. 26
Source: ESPN
It shouldn't come as a surprise due to the breadth of the allegations against U-M, but an NCAA enforcement team is onsite in Ann Arbor investigation the sign-stealing charges against Michigan.
Michigan staffers are having their electronics looked into as well.
Michigan computers reportedly contain hard evidence of scandal
Wednesday, Oct. 25
Source: Washington Post
The Washington Post reported Wednesday that it wasn't a hunch or a rumor that kicked off this investigation: It was good, old-fashioned evidence.
Per The Post, an outside firm approached the NCAA on Oct. 17 with drives accessed by multiple coaches containing evidence of illegal scouting. The organization subsequently opened its own investigation into Michigan's alleged illicit actions.
The evidence suggests a wider network of sign-stealing, although Harbaugh himself was not directly implicated. Per the Post, Michigan expected to spend more than $15,000 in 2023 sending scouts to more than 40 games played by 10 different opponents. Wolverines scouts reportedly planned to attend eight Ohio State games and "four or five" games involving Georgia, the two-time defending national champion.
REQUIRED READING: Connor Stalions reportedly texted about stealing signs from TV
Stalions reportedly bought tickets to non-Big Ten teams
Tuesday, Oct. 24
Sources: ESPN, Yahoo Sports
The day after the Big Ten reports emerged, ESPN reported Stalions also bought tickets to non-Big Ten games that featured potential College Football Playoff opponents.
Sources told both ESPN and Yahoo Sports that Stalions bought tickets to the 2021 and 2022 SEC title games, both of which featured eventual national champion Georgia. The 2021 game also featured Alabama, a team that later made the Playoff as the 1-seed. Tickets for both games were bought on secondary markets.
At the same time as the SEC rumors emerged, a source from a 12th Big Ten school told ESPN it confirmed Stalions purchased tickets to its games.
Yahoo Sports also reported Stalions bought tickets to regular-season games, including the Tennessee-Kentucky game on Oct. 28, 2022 and Oregon-Washington game on Nov. 12, 2022. Clemson also is mentioned as a team Stalions is "believed" to have bought tickets to watch.
Connor Stalions reportedly bought tickets to more than 30 Big Ten games
Date: Monday, Oct. 23
Source: ESPN
After Michigan defeated Michigan State last Saturday, its high was short-lived. ESPN reported on Monday that Stalions bought tickets to more than 30 Big Ten games and 11 different opponents, none of whom Michigan was playing on that given day.
That includes tickets on both side of Ohio Stadium for the Week 8 game between Penn State and Ohio State (those seats went unused). There were also indications Stalions forwarded those tickets to other parties, suggesting a broader network than just himself
The ESPN report indicated the NCAA was expected to receive video evidence of illegal use of technology in the scouting scandal. The report indicated stadium surveillance video showed a person — sitting in the seat for which Stalions bought a ticket — holding their smartphone up and filming the home team's sideline.
OPINION: Sign-stealing allegations against Michigan cast a pall over its triumphant climb
Michigan suspends Connor Stalions
Date: Friday, Oct. 20
The day after the story broke, Michigan announced Stalions was suspended with pay for his alleged role in the sign-stealing investigation.
Stalions is a retired captain from the U.S. Marine Corps and a graduate of the United States Naval Academy. He was hired as an off-field analyst for Michigan in May 2022.
Jim Harbaugh denies knowledge of sign-stealing in Michigan program
Date: Thursday, Oct. 19
Source: Jim Harbaugh
On the same day as the allegations broke, Harbaugh issued a strong denial of any knowledge of stealing signs.
"I want to make it clear that I, and my staff, will fully cooperate with the investigation into this matter," Harbaugh said. "I do not have any knowledge or information regarding the University of Michigan football program illegally stealing signals, nor have I directed staff members or others to participate in an off-campus scouting assignment. I have no awareness of anyone on our staff having done that or having directed that action.
"I do not condone or tolerate anyone doing anything illegal or against the NCAA rules. No matter what program or organization that I have led throughout my career, my instructions and awareness of how we scout opponents have always been firmly within the rules. Pursuant to NCAA rules, I will not be able to comment further while this investigation takes place."
Yahoo Sports breaks news of Michigan sign-stealing scandal
Date: Thursday, Oct. 19
Source: Yahoo Sports
On Thursday, Oct. 19 — just days ahead of Michigan's game against Michigan State — Yahoo Sports broke the story that two of Michigan's opponents were aware of the Wolverines intercepting their signals.
Although scouting opponents is not illegal, sending staffers to games instead of using provided video is a subversion of the spirit of the rules. Impermissible recording is also prohibited. After the story broke, Michigan State was notified of the allegations against Michigan.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Michigan football sign-stealing investigation: What you need to know
