Catapult Under Investigation After NCAA Football Video Security Concerns
Catapult, a company that provides video storage for college football programs and other organizations, is under investigation by the NCAA and local authorities following concerns about unauthorized access to football video footage. The investigation was prompted after players from Alabama and Michigan reported security concerns with the platform.
In a statement, a Catapult spokesperson stated, “We are aware of the ongoing investigation of the alleged unauthorized access to NCAA football video footage. We have conducted an internal investigation and have not found any security breach in our systems. We have shared this with local authorities that are conducting an investigation.”
The company did not specify which local authorities are involved in the investigation or which schools were affected. However, it was revealed that the University of Michigan took down its cloud-based storage system in early November after concerns that it had been targeted in a potential breach. Players could only access film from Michigan’s servers inside university facilities and were not given remote access.
Michigan’s offensive coordinator, Sherrone Moore, stated, “We watched it in-house and handled it that way. It was something that we decided from our own perspective. People heard some things and we wanted to make sure we were safe on our end.”
Concerns about the Catapult platform were brought to light by players from Alabama who reported they were only watching film in group meetings in preparation for the Rose Bowl matchup against Michigan.
This is not the first time teams have taken extra precautions before a game against Michigan. However, the concerns about the security of practice film are separate from the sign-stealing allegations involving former Michigan staffer Connor Stalions, who allegedly compiled video footage of other teams’ signals during games.
The law enforcement agency investigating the potential breach has not been identified. The University of Michigan Police Department, which has been collaborating with the FBI to investigate potential computer-access crimes involving former Michigan offensive coordinator Matt Weiss, stated that it is “not involved in any investigation regarding unauthorized access to NCAA football video footage originating from the Michigan football program.”
Michigan quarterback, J.J. McCarthy, expressed understanding for Alabama’s extra precautions and mentioned that Michigan has been doing the same. He stated, “It makes sense with everything going on and the society we live in today. Like them, we haven’t been watching film on our iPads all of November because of everything that’s been going on. We’re just making sure we’re getting that time in the facility, that time to watch film and really dissect whoever we’re playing.”
The situation is ongoing, and further details about the investigation are expected to be released as the story develops.