In the eyes of some, Michigan’s 2023 national championship season still has an asterisk.
While the Wolverines consistently looked like the best team in college football during the 2023 campaign, the season was rocked by a sign-stealing scandal that led to coach Jim Harbaugh’s second suspension of the season and the ousting of two assistants — including one who found himself at the center of the allegations.
Harbaugh left Ann Arbor to return to the NFL after the season, leaving first-time head coach Sherrone Moore to deal with the ripple effects of the scandal at an otherwise enviable program given Michigan’s brand and resources.
Here’s everything you need to know about Michigan’s sign-stealing scandal and the price the Wolverines are paying for it.
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Michigan sign-stealing scandal timeline
The NCAA informed Michigan on Oct. 18, 2023, that it was investigating whether the team scouted opponents in person in an effort to steal signs.
While sign-stealing is allowed if it’s not done using electronics to relay information to players or coaches, programs cannot send anyone to scout a future opponent in person within the same season. That rule has been in place since 1994.
ESPN first reported that Michigan staffer Connor Stalions was a central focus of the NCAA’s investigations.
According to Yahoo, two of Michigan’s opponents initially reported to the NCAA that they were concerned about the Wolverines potentially stealing signs. The Athletic reported on Oct. 19, 2023, that Michigan State initially considered not playing the scheduled game against the Wolverines “out of concern for health and safety” of the team’s players, but the program decided to play as scheduled. Michigan won 49-0 in East Lansing.
ESPN reported on Oct. 23, 2023, that…
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Publish date : 2025-08-14 21:28:00
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