Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan football team is under investigation by the NCCA over alleged sign stealing and illegal scouting of future opponents.
Since the NCCA’s bylaws frown on these illegalities, they’ve launched an investigation into the matter to dig up the truth.
Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan football team is being investigated by the NCAA for allegedly illicitly scouting future opponents, which runs afoul of the organization’s bylaws.
NCAA Bylaw 11.6.1 prohibits “off-campus, in-person scouting of future opponent.”
The news of the investigation was first reported by Yahoo Sports, which said the NCAA is seeking to determine whether second-ranked Michigan (7-0) scouted both upcoming scheduled opponents, as well as potential opponents in the College Football Playoff, to gather intel about offensive and defensive play-call signs.
Two of this year’s previous Michigan opponents told Yahoo that the Wolverines knew their signs.
“I do not have any knowledge or information regarding the University of Michigan football program illegally stealing signals, nor have I directed any staff member or others to participate in an off-campus scouting assignment,” Harbaugh said in a statement. “I have no awareness of anyone on our staff having done that or having directed that action.”
Sign-stealing is not technically illegal in college football unless teams are disseminating the signs electronically to players or coaches during the game, but in-person advance scouting has been banned since 1994.
“The university has been notified by the NCAA, along with the Big Ten, that the NCAA is investigating allegations of play signal stealing by Michigan football,” a Michigan spokesperson said in a statement.
“The university is fully cooperating with the Big Ten and NCAA. The investigation is ongoing and will not impact Saturday’s game. At the University of Michigan, we are committed to the highest ethical and integrity standards for all members of our community.”
A Big Ten statement said, “Late Wednesday afternoon, the Big Ten Conference and University of Michigan were notified by the NCAA that the NCAA was investigating allegations of sign stealing by the University of Michigan football program. The Big Ten Conference has notified Michigan State University and future opponents. The Big Ten Conference considers the integrity of competition to be of utmost importance and will continue to monitor the investigation. The Conference will have no further comment at this time.”
Harbaugh is also already involved in an NCAA imbroglio regarding allegations that he met with recruits at times when that was prohibited during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Michigan and Georgia are the current betting favorites to win the national championship this season with both teams holding +270 odds.
Jim Harbaugh’s Michigan football team will be punished by the NCCA if it turns out that they are guilty of sign stealing and illegal scouting of future opponents after the investigations.