Michigan has recently received the final version of a notice of allegations (NOA) from the NCAA following an investigation into an in-person scouting and sign-stealing operation involving a football staff member. The NCAA and the school confirmed this development on Sunday. The NOA originally contained allegations against former head coach Jim Harbaugh, current head coach Sherrone Moore, former recruiting analyst Connor Stalions, and several other staff members. The NCAA, in a statement, acknowledged the distribution of the NOA but refrained from providing further details to maintain the integrity of the process.
Michigan has been granted a 90-day window to respond to the allegations in line with NCAA regulations. Subsequently, the school could face a hearing in front of the NCAA’s committee on infractions. Nevertheless, a mutually agreed-upon resolution remains a possibility. Despite the shadow of the investigation looming over Michigan during the latter half of the 2023 undefeated season, the Wolverines clinched their first national title since 1997.
The NCAA’s investigation focused on the impermissible in-person scouting and sign-stealing practices observed at Michigan. In-person advanced scouting is prohibited by the NCAA, prompting an inquiry into the extent of its organization and who within the program was aware of the activities. Evidence from other Big Ten schools indicates that Stalions purchased tickets to various games involving upcoming opponents and deployed individuals to digitally record opposing teams’ play signals.
Stalions was initially placed on leave and later resigned from the school. However, he did not participate in the investigation. Stalions is scheduled to break his silence in a Netflix documentary titled “Sign Stealer,” premiering on Tuesday. Harbaugh, now coaching the Los Angeles Chargers, has refuted any knowledge of impermissible scouting during his tenure at Michigan, though he and Stalions may face Level 1 violations.
Following an investigation into the sign-stealing scheme, Harbaugh received a three-game suspension from the Big Ten during the 2023 regular season for contravening the conference’s sportsmanship policy. More recently, the NCAA concluded a probe into recruiting violations at Michigan under Harbaugh, resulting in a show-cause order banning him from collegiate coaching for four years. The upcoming season will mark Michigan’s debut under Moore on August 31 against Fresno State.
