The Connor Stalions Scandal: Unraveling the Michigan NCAA Investigation
The Michigan football sign-stealing saga has been a prominent topic in college sports. The NCAA released its full findings in a 74-page report, deeming there was "overwhelming evidence" to show Michigan had conducted an impermissible scouting scheme. This article delves into the details of the investigation, the key players involved, and the repercussions for the University of Michigan.
The Impermissible Scouting Scheme
The NCAA found "overwhelming evidence" of an impermissible scouting scheme by Michigan football. Connor Stalions, a former Michigan analyst, was at the center of the sign-stealing operation. The NCAA revealed that Stalions referred to this group as the "KGB", and the scheme had scouted at least 13 future opponents over 52 contests. The investigation specifically centers on NCAA Bylaw 11.6.1, which states "Off-campus, in-person scouting of future opponents (in the same season) is prohibited, except as provided in Bylaws 11.6.1.1 and 11.6.1.2", with neither exception applying in Michigan's situation.
Connor Stalions' Role and Actions
Connor Stalions played a central role in orchestrating the sign-stealing scheme. He purchased tickets in his own name for more than 30 games over three years at 11 different Big Ten schools. The NCAA says Stalions admitted he spent $35,000 on tickets alone in just the 2022 season. The NCAA says that Stalions directed and arranged for individuals to conduct off-campus, in-person scouting of Michigan's future regular-season opponents. In doing so, Stalions purchased game tickets and transferred them to those individuals, who included another staff member, interns and acquaintances of Stalions.
While in attendance, they filmed the signal callers on the future opponents' sidelines and then provided that film to Stalions. Using the footage they collected - which Stalions referred to as "dirty film" - Stalions then deciphered opponents' signals. Stalions and other individuals involved in the scheme acknowledged or corroborated this process. Additionally, on one occasion, Stalions personally attended a future opponent's contest.
Adding to the intrigue, Stalions admitted to throwing his phone and hard drive into a pond. The NCAA says that was just the start of it, as Stalions' cooperation was "some of the worst the COI has ever seen."
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The "KGB" and the Scope of the Scheme
The scope of the University of Michigan's sign-stealing operation included both video evidence of electronics prohibited by the NCAA to steal signs and a significant paper trail, per sources. Michigan staffer Connor Stalions purchased tickets in his own name for more than 30 games over three years at 11 different Big Ten schools. The NCAA revealed that Stalions referred to this group as the "KGB", and the scheme had scouted at least 13 future opponents over 52 contests.
Jim Harbaugh's Involvement and Knowledge
Unless something drastically changes and Harbaugh decides to open up, we'll never know what the former coach really knew about the sign-stealing scandal. The NCAA admits there's no specific evidence that the ex-coach knew of the scheme, but there was a big caveat: "Mr. Stalions said that he destroyed his phone and threw it in a pond along with a hard drive and threw it in a pond, so we may never know the full extent to which others in the program were aware of what Mr. Stalions was doing."
The NCAA Public Infractions Decision noted that head coach Jim Harbaugh ran a program that was "largely dismissive of rules compliance". Harbaugh "did not embrace or enforce a culture of compliance during his tenure," which the NCAA says led "coaches and staff to disregard NCAA rules." When speaking with the media on a call after the ruling came down, Norman Bay, the NCAA's Committee on Infractions chair, said Michigan's compliance office was "viewed as 'a thorn in (Harbaugh's) side,' 'a roadblock' and described as 'scum of the Earth.'" The scouting scheme and recruiting violations in the football program demonstrate that Harbaugh violated the principles of head coach responsibility. For the scouting violations that occurred during the 2021 and 2022 seasons, Harbaugh failed to demonstrate that he adequately promoted compliance or monitored his program. Harbaugh is also automatically responsible for the scouting and recruiting violations that occurred after Jan.
NCAA's Findings and Penalties
The NCAA released its full findings in a 74-page report, and deemed there was "overwhelming evidence" to show Michigan had conducted an impermissible scouting scheme. The NCAA is clear about one thing: "Regardless of whether it was Stalions or someone acting on his behalf, their physical presence at the game essentially gave them front-row seats to a key element of opponents' offensive and defensive strategies."
Michigan received major financial sanctions along with other penalties. plus 10% of the football program's budget, as well as a fine equivalent to the 10% cost of scholarships given at the end of the 2025-26 school year. Additionally, Then-head coach Sherrone Moore was given a three-game suspension for the 2025 season, former head coach Jim Harbaugh was given a 10-year show cause for failure to monitor and a lack of cooperation, and Connor Stalions was given an eight-year show cause for his violations. Denard Robinson was given a three-year show-cause order.
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Michigan was fined more than $30 million, according to the NCAA Committee on Infractions punishments released last August, after the investigation of the illegal scouting scandal and placed on probation for four years. Michigan initially planned to appeal but withdrew its intent to appeal on Oct. 6, 2025.
Reactions and Opinions
Reactions to the scandal from opposing fanbases and reporters were mixed. Detroit sports talk radio host Mike Valenti of 97.1 The Ticket’s The Valenti Show With Rico bashed Michigan and considered the scandal to be one of the worst in sports history. Former Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops heavily criticized Michigan, stating that "If it’s true, oh, absolutely (it is a big deal). That’s ridiculous. Everyone (saying), 'Oh, it happens all the time!' No, it doesn’t. I’ve never heard of that. In all my years of football and every team I’ve ever been on, sure, do we look across the field and if you can see it, that’s your job to do. You know what I’m saying, if I’m able to just in my plain eye look over there and know what they’re doing, I should be doing that. But to video people and to send people to scout and marry up a signal with the play … No, no, no. That’s terrible. It goes against everything we’re about.
Alternatively, Colin Cowherd of Fox Sports called the scandal overblown, stating that "So for the record, everybody - just like cannabis and sports gambling - everybody’s stealing signs, they just do it differently; I do not believe that guy in the TV picture is the difference between Michigan and Ohio State. I think it was a better coach, better planning, and more physicality." Joel Klatt of Fox Sports also defended Michigan, stating that, "I’m not saying that there weren’t rules broken. I’m not saying that it didn’t happen. I think that the more you really know about the sport, the more you know about football, I think you realize the less of an impact this actually had on the games. But the less you know about football (you likely think it had) more (of an) impact. Do you think it had an impact on every single play? Do you think that it had an impact on every single game and that they don’t win unless that’s not necessarily the case? Not necessarily the case." ESPN’s Paul Finebaum did not believe that what Stalions did had a significant impact on the game, saying "I would need evidence to say, 'Okay, because of Connor Stalions and all this, where was the advantage?' I just never saw it. If it was so obvious in one game or two games that they turned?
The Aftermath and Lingering Questions
The Michigan football sign-stealing saga appears to finally be coming to an end after nearly two years, but with what was learned from the NCAA's investigation, we'll probably be talking about it for years to come. The NCAA stated it may never know the full extent of the scheme or Jim Harbaugh's knowledge of it. Perhaps the biggest question still unanswered is where the money came from for this program. The NCAA says Stalions admitted he spent $35,000 on tickets alone in just the 2022 season. So where did he get the money for it, and how much was spent in total?
Sign Stealing in College Football: An Evolving Issue
Sign stealing generally refers to the practice of covertly identifying the hand signals used by opposition coaches to instruct their players during a game. For most of the history of college football, sign stealing was not an issue. Traditionally, teams would huddle between snaps, with plays frequently sent in by player substitution. The NCAA has never directly banned sign stealing in football, but does ban teams from using electronic equipment to record opponents' signals during its own game. Bylaw 11.6.1.1 states that an institutional staff member cannot in-person advance scout a common opponent in the same season.
Read also: Paying for Michigan Tech as an Out-of-State Student
Unlike the NFL, the NCAA prohibited the use of coach-to-player audio technology (except in bowl games), also due to differing program resources. In 2024, the rule changed to allow coach-to-player communication with one player on each side of the ball. It is commonly believed to have ended the need to signal, however that is not the case. Visible signals are not necessary because of coach-to-player communication or the lack thereof. Teams have always had the option to huddle and utilize wristbands without needing coach-to-player communication. Visible signals are necessary for tempo or an offense or defense. Even after the rule change, many teams still signal their play offensively, forcing the defense to do the same (preventing them from huddling). It is common practice in college football for teams to still signal and therefore steal opponent signals.
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