Michigan Football Under Investigation for Sign-Stealing Scandal
In a shocking turn of events, Michigan football is currently under investigation for a sign-stealing scandal that has sent shockwaves through the Big Ten conference.
According to sources from ESPN, Michigan has sent documents to the Big Ten showing evidence that three conference teams – Rutgers, Ohio State, and Purdue – were engaged in communication about the Wolverines’ signals during the 2022 season. Purdue, which faced Michigan in the Big Ten championship game, is alleged to have received offensive signals from Ohio State and defensive signals from Rutgers.
The Big Ten has forwarded this information to the NCAA for possible follow-up, as it is unclear whether the signal sharing between league teams violates the Big Ten’s sportsmanship policy or any NCAA rules. While NCAA rules do not expressly prohibit in-game signal stealing, they do forbid off-campus scouting in advance of games.
Michigan has also been notified of potential disciplinary action by the Big Ten and has until Wednesday to respond. It is believed that a suspension for football coach Jim Harbaugh is the likeliest potential discipline, according to sources.
The scandal took a more damning turn when a former employee at a Big Ten program shared documents with Michigan that revealed the Wolverines’ signs and how they corresponded to specific run and pass plays. The documents reportedly included screenshots of text message exchanges with other staff members at Big Ten schools, detailing the plan to collect Michigan’s signals.
In the midst of this controversy, Michigan managed to defeat Purdue 43-22 to win its second consecutive Big Ten title and advance to the College Football Playoff.
As of now, Purdue, Ohio State, and Rutgers have not responded to requests for comment on the matter.
The implications of this scandal are far-reaching, and the future of Michigan football hangs in the balance as the investigation unfolds.