The NCAA is investigating the University of Michigan football program over allegations of sign-stealing, the Big Ten announced Thursday.
The league contacted Michigan State on Wednesday ahead of this weekend’s matchup between the rivals in East Lansing and presented “credible evidence” that the Wolverines have successfully stolen signs called by opposing teams’ coaches this season .
Yahoo reported On Thursday, the NCAA announced that it was investigating Michigan “for possible rule violations in in-person scouting of opponents.” Per NCAA Bylaw 11.6.1, in-person off-campus scouting of future opponents (in the same season) is prohibited.
UM athletic director Warde Manuel spoke with Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti about the matter on Wednesday. A source with knowledge of the claim said no evidence compiled by the conference had been provided to Michigan as of midday Thursday. School spokesman Rick Fitzgerald said Thursday that the university is fully cooperating with the Big Ten and the NCAA.
The league alleges that, as a source familiar with the allegation said, Michigan is using a “vast network” to steal opposing teams’ signs. The league told Michigan State that it reviewed film that shows UM clearly knows what play the opposing team will play before the game takes place.
“The Big Ten Conference believes the integrity of competition is extremely important and will continue to monitor the investigation,” the league said in a statement Thursday.
When Michigan State learned of the pending investigation, it initially warned the Big Ten that it might consider not playing Saturday’s game out of concern for the health and safety of its players, according to two sources briefed on those conversations. On Thursday morning, MSU confirmed it would play the game.
Sign stealing is not prohibited by the NCAA unless a team intercepts in-game electronic communications. But it has a long history with decades of accusations and allegations.
In 2020, Clemson was touted as the best sign-stealing program in college football. Before the 2020 Sugar Bowl, Ohio State head coach Ryan Day said Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables “always seems to know exactly what the other team is doing.”
Arizona State coach Todd Graham was accused of signal stealing by both Washington and Utah in 2015. At halftime of a game in 2014, Kansas State coach Bill Snyder accused Auburn of sign-stealing. A year earlier, Auburn was accused by Florida State of stealing signs in the BCS championship game. The list goes on.
The question facing Michigan is whether these recent allegations go beyond stealing signs on the field. According to Yahoo’s report, sources claim that Michigan may have “used unnamed individuals to attend the games of both scheduled opponents and possible College Football Playoff opponents to gather information about the signs they use to both To call offensive and defensive plays.”
Michigan is currently under investigation by the NCAA for a series of Level II violations related to recruiting during a COVID dead period and statements made to NCAA investigators.
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(Photo by Jim Harbaugh: David Berding/Getty)