Story by
Here's what we know about Ohio State and the Michigan sign-stealing scandal
- Story by
- Here's what we know about Ohio State and the Michigan sign-stealing scandal
Ever since the NCAA announced Michigan football was under investigation for allegedly violating rules related to sign stealing , its rivalry with Ohio State has seemingly been at the center of the story.
Here's a look at what Ohio State fans need to know about Michigan's alleged sign-stealing operation .
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh watches from the sideline beside off-field analyst Connor Stalions in a game at Ohio State on Nov. 26, 2022.
Jim Harbaugh will not coach Michigan vs. Ohio State after suspension. What we know
Jim Harbaugh will not be allowed on the sideline for the rest of Michigan football 's regular season.
Advertisement
According to an announcement from the Big Ten Nov. 10, Harbaugh was suspended for the final three games of the 2023 regular season . Harbaugh will be able to attend practices and other football activities other than the game.
Harbaugh will not be on the sideline for Michigan 's final regular-season game against Ohio State Nov. 25 in Ann Arbor.
After scheduling a hearing to challenge the Big Ten's ruling, Harbaugh and Michigan officially accepted the coach's three-game suspension Thursday.
"This morning, the University, Coach Harbaugh, and the Big Ten resolved their pending litigation," the University of Michigan said in a statement. "The Conference agreed to close its investigation, and the University and Coach Harbaugh agreed to accept the three-game suspension. Coach Harbaugh, with the University's support, decided to accept this sanction to return the focus to our student-athletes and their performance on the field. The Conference has confirmed that it is not aware of any information suggesting Coach Harbaugh's involvement in the allegations. The University continues to cooperate fully with the NCAA's investigation."
Advertisement
Ohio State coach Ryan Day denies giving Michigan signs to Purdue for Big Ten title game
Ohio State coach Ryan Day denied Wednesday night that the Buckeyes gave Michigan's play signals to Purdue for last year's Big Ten championship game.
"I can tell you this right now that nobody here did any of that," Day said. "We went through and made sure we asked all the questions and got our compliance people involved. None of that came back at all. I can answer very strongly that that did not happen."
Oller's Second Thoughts: Michigan sign-stealing scandal not unlike baseball steroid era
Here's why Dispatch columnist compares the Michigan sign-stealing scandal from the steroid era in Major League Baseball.
Advertisement
Report: Ohio State coach Ryan Day, family not connected to NCAA investigation of Michigan
According to a report by Yahoo Sports , the NCAA notified the Big Ten that there are no connections between Ohio State football coach Ryan Day or his family to the investigation into Michigan football for alleged sign stealing.
As the investigation continued, rumors started over social media and other websites that Day and select family members has been involved in the NCAA's investigation. According to the Yahoo Sports report, Day and family members had received threats because of these rumors.
Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti, according to Yahoo, reached out to the NCAA to seek answers over Day's involvement. The NCAA later confirmed that Day nor his family members were involved.
Advertisement
Oller: 'Michigan Impossible' keeps getting more bizarre by the day. How will it end?
How will the Michigan sign-stealing scandal end? Dispatch columnist Rob Oller gives his take on the where Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines lie.
Urban Meyer on Michigan football sign-stealing allegations: 'Hard for me to believe'
Former Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer has been silent on the Michigan sign-stealing allegations — until now.
Meyer, who left Ohio State after the 2018 season with a 7-0 record vs. Michigan, said he's skeptical of the reporting implicating the Wolverines and staff member Connor Stalions in an illegal scouting and sign-stealing scheme.
Advertisement
One reason? He's skeptical of reporters in general.
Big Ten coaches want action on Michigan sign-stealing investigation, per report
Big Ten football coaches are urging conference commissioner Tony Petitti to do something about the league's sign-stealing investigation into Michigan , ESPN reported Wednesday.
In a video call with Petitti Wednesday, "a vast majority" of Big Ten coaches encouraged the commissioner to "take action against Michigan."
"Collectively, the coaches want the Big Ten to act — right now," an unnamed source told ESPN. "What are we waiting on? We know what happened."
Advertisement
Report: Ohio State contacted NCAA about in-person scouting of 2022 CFP semifinal
With an an investigation ongoing looking into in-person scouting and alleged sign stealing by Michigan, Ohio State football, according to Yahoo Sports , contacted the NCAA about whether or not teams can scout 2022 College Football Playoff semifinal games in person to scout future opponents.
Report: Ohio State helped warn TCU about Michigan sign stealing before College Football Playoff
Ahead of its College Football Playoff semifinal matchup against Michigan in December, TCU was warned by Ohio State and other Big Ten teams about "Michigan's elaborate sign-stealing scheme," according to a Yahoo Sports report.
Advertisement
Many Horned Frogs staff members, according to the report, received phone calls from coaches across the country, including Ohio State, about the Wolverines' sign-stealing acts.
"Literally everybody we talked to knew," said one TCU coach. "They'd say, 'Just so you know, they steal your signals and they're going to have everything so you better change them.'"
Former Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud on Michigan sign-stealing allegations: 'That's my past life'
Former Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud did not have much to say when asked about the allegations of Michigan stealing signs.
Advertisement
"I don't know what's going on. That's my first time hearing that. That's my past life," Stroud, now a Houston Texans quarterback , told reporters Thursday. "I'm not the type of person to go back and 'Oh, they did that.' They beat us. It is what it is. I'm not super happy with that, but man I'm in the NFL now. I'm not worried about what happened in college. We had an idea, maybe, that that stuff was going on. But, at the end of the day, it is what it is. I'm not here to go back and forth with that. I'm a Texan now and is what it is. I'm not trippng off that."
Former Ohio State OL Dawand Jones suspected Michigan had OSU signs during 2022 game
Former Ohio State and current Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Dawand Jones told the Associated Press that he suspected Michigan stealing the Buckeyes' signs in OSU's 45-23 loss in 2022.
Jones said Ohio State made some changes but couldn't change all the signals they used to call plays. He said seeing Michigan line up and know what was coming was "a little demoralizing."
Advertisement
"It's just sad to see it," Jones told the AP. "We're kids at the end of the day, and you don't want to cheat a kid out of a chance to showcase their skills on a national level. It's just sad to see that."
Report: Michigan 'sign-stealing operation' planned to attend several Ohio State games
The Washington Post reported Wednesday that Michigan football's "sign-stealing operation" that involved in-person scouting and video recording coaches has been in place since "at least last season."
While the investigation found "planned sign-stealing travel for the rest of the season, listing opponents' schedules, which games Michigan scouts would attend and how much money was budgeted for travel and tickets," it also found that Michigan was planning to attend "as many as eight" Ohio State games, spending more than $3,000 in tickets and travel.
Advertisement
Report: Michigan staffer purchased tickets to at least four Ohio State football games
According to an ESPN report, Connor Stalions, the Michigan staffer suspended amid multiple investigations into whether the Wolverines violated NCAA rules in order to steal opponents' signals, bought tickets to at least four Ohio State games.
ESPN confirmed Stalions bought tickets for three games in which Ohio State was the visiting team, while also purchasing tickets for the Ohio State vs. Penn State game, which went unused.
Ohio State's Ryan Day says helmet technology should be considered to limit sign stealing
While Ryan Day refused to answer direct questions about Michigan and its allegations of sign stealing, the Ohio State coach did say college football should consider adding helmet communication, which is used in the NFL.
Advertisement
"It doesn't really matter right now," Day said. "What matters is playing this game. But we should definitely consider that, because it would certainly help."
Report: Connor Stalions, Michigan football staffer, had tickets for Ohio State vs. Penn State
After ESPN reported that Connor Stalions, the Michigan football analytics assistant who was suspended with pay as a "person-of-interest" in the program's NCAA investigation, purchased tickets in his own name for more than 30 college football games at 11 Big Ten schools in the past three years.
And one of those games was reportedly Ohio State vs. Penn State on Saturday.
Advertisement
According to ESPN, Stalions had tickets on both sides of Ohio Stadium for the Buckeyes' matchup against the Nittany Lions that were not used. The tickets were reportedly facing each bench.
Pat McAfee jokes about Michigan sign-stealing scandal, says Wolverines will lose to Ohio State
Pat McAfee couldn't help but make fun of Michigan when "College GameDay" was in Columbus for Ohio State vs. Penn State.
When asked if Michigan would finish the 2023 season undefeated, McAfee was ready.
"It's much easier to win when you know exactly what the other team is going to do," McAfee said.
Advertisement
'You've got to put the signs away': Desmond Howard jokes about Michigan sign-stealing allegations
Desmond Howard started "College GameDay" Saturday in Columbus with jokes about his alma mater.
"You've got to put the signs away before Harbaugh drives down from East Lansing and steals them all," Howard said.
Ohio State football staff member says OSU 'changed' signs ahead of 2022 Michigan game
One day after the NCAA announced it was investigating Michigan for allegedly violating rules related to sign stealing, Yahoo Sports quoted an unnamed Ohio State football support staff member who said the Buckeyes "changed things up" ahead of the 2022 Michigan game to combat potential sign stealing.
Advertisement
"We heard they had a guy pick plays pretty good and had all this information from not your typical ways of getting the signals," the staff member said. "We get into the game and it's the second quarter. I see him across the field and he's checking his 11x17 sheet."
Get more Ohio State football news by listening to our podcasts
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: What we know about Ohio State and the Michigan sign-stealing scandal
