Michigan has taken swift action in response to sign-stealing allegations as they announced the immediate suspension of football staffer Connor Stalions pending the conclusion of an NCAA investigation. Athletic director Warde Manuel confirmed the suspension, stating that Stalions would be on paid leave during the investigation.

Stalions, listed as a member of Michigan's recruiting department specializing in analytics, is at the center of the NCAA's probe into the decoding of other teams' signals. The investigation was prompted by a notification from the NCAA to Michigan and the Big Ten conference regarding potential rules violations related to in-person scouting of opponents. It is alleged that Michigan utilized an extensive network to steal opposing teams' signs.

Sources familiar with the matter revealed that Stalions retired from the U.S. Marine Corps in 2022 before joining Michigan's football staff as an analyst. Having volunteered in various capacities at Michigan previously and worked with the Navy football program from 2013 to 2016, Stalions touted his military background and skills in his LinkedIn profile, emphasizing his ability to identify opponents' likely and dangerous courses of action, as well as exploitable vulnerabilities.

ESPN reported that Stalions has been identified as a "person of interest" in the NCAA investigation, with the governing body seeking information regarding his methods for decoding opponents' signals. While sign-stealing is not explicitly forbidden in college football, NCAA bylaw 11.6.1 prohibits off-campus, in-person scouting of future opponents within the same season.

Within the Michigan Wolverines program, Stalions had garnered a reputation for his prowess in decoding opponents' signals since his return. Described as a "savant" and "exceptional in-game" by an insider, Stalions' ability to discern tendencies and differentiate between live and false signals was regarded as a genuine skill. Sources close to the program disclosed that decoding opponents' signals was an area in which Stalions took pride, further solidifying his reputation within the coaching staff.

Interestingly, the Wolverines had also gained a reputation within the conference for their effectiveness in cracking opponents' signaling systems. A Big Ten running backs coach, speaking anonymously to The Athletic, acknowledged that Michigan was particularly adept at stealing signals, noting that they had successfully obtained their team's signals early and from both sides of the ball.

As the NCAA investigation unfolds, Michigan remains under scrutiny for potential rules violations related to sign-stealing. The outcome of the investigation will determine the future course of action for Connor Stalions and could have implications for the Wolverines football program.