Coaches in games involving Power 4 teams have been communicating with athletes using unencrypted frequencies through their helmets, raising concerns about the potential interception of plays by unauthorized individuals with the right equipment.

The Southeastern Conference (SEC) has confirmed its awareness of the situation, which was initially reported by a media outlet, stating that they were in discussions with other conferences and GSC, the manufacturer of the helmets, to address the problem.

“We have not been made aware of any instances where the system has been compromised during games,” the SEC said in its official statement. The company, GSC, is working on an update to remedy the issue, and schools have been notified of their option to implement these updates at their discretion.

All Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) conferences are using helmet communication systems this season following a new NCAA rule that permits their use. The SEC, Big Ten, Big 12, and ACC have all selected GSC as their provider, which is also the same company utilized by the National Football League (NFL).

The Big Ten remarked that it has not encountered any issues pertaining to the lack of encryption.

According to the initial report, the vulnerability was uncovered during an SEC match on September 28 between Texas A&M and Arkansas. It suggested that while it is theoretically possible for outside parties to intercept communications using scanners, doing so is not straightforward.

The at-risk communications primarily involve in-game discussions concerning plays and orders that coaches share with players through their helmets, typically from a quarterback on offense or a linebacker on defense, initiated by pressing a button. Such communication is automatically ceased when the play clock hits 15 seconds.

Last season, the Big Ten subjected Michigan’s head coach, Jim Harbaugh, to a three-game suspension after accusations surfaced alleging that the Wolverines engaged in signal-stealing through video tactics. The NCAA established the helmet communication rule about six months after commencing its investigation into the claims against Michigan.