Michigan investigation began after outside firm brought alleged evidence to NCAA, per report

The NCAA’s investigation into the Michigan football program over alleged sign-stealing and in-person scouting began after an outside investigative firm approached college sports’ governing body with videos and documents detailing the reported scheme that were discovered on computer drives maintained by multiple Wolverines coaches, according to a report Wednesday from The Washington Post.

The firm’s findings to the NCAA on Oct. 17 suggested that suspended Michigan staffer Connor Stalions, who has emerged as a central figure in the alleged operation, didn’t act alone, according to the report.

The Wolverines expected to spend more than $15,000 this season sending scouts to more than 40 games played by 10 different opponents, with Ohio State and Georgia being the two most commonly targeted programs. Michigan scouts planned to attend as many as eight Buckeyes games and “four or five” Bulldogs games, with the combined cost of tickets and travel exceeding $3,000 for each program’s matchups. Stalions made $55,000 in 2022.

No evidence from the firm directly linked Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh to the scheme.

Photos from the firm’s probe showed individuals believed to be Wolverines scouts seated at games of upcoming Michigan opponents with phones aimed at the sidelines, where coaches were using signals and signs to call plays for the offense and defense. Those videos, according to the report, were then uploaded to a computer drive maintained by Stalions and “several other Michigan assistants and coaches.”

The firm’s investigation, which began this season, discovered that Michigan has been using in-person scouts and recording opposing coaches on videos since at least last season.

Earlier Wednesday, a report from Sports Illustrated revealed that Stalions had sent text messages to a college student hoping to break into the college football industry in which he detailed how he bragged about his close relationship with several Michigan coaches and stole signs for the Wolverines.