Michigan football being investigated by the NCAA for stealing signs

Jim Harbaugh and Michigan football are once again in the crosshairs of the NCAA according to a report from Yahoo Sports.

If Michigan football fans were wondering why there were so many dark GIFs floating around social media this morning — the other shoe finally dropped.

Ross Dellenger and Dan Wetzel of Yahoo Sports are reporting about the NCAA investigating Michigan football for the possible stealing of signs using “in-person scouting methods.”

The article points out that while stealing signs isn’t against NCAA rules, you aren’t allowed to scout other teams in person ahead of games. Teams also aren’t permitted to use video or audio recording equipment to record signs and use that information.

What the report alleges is that Michigan football has had staffers or people “loyal to the program” at games of College Football Playoff opponents or potential College Football Playoff opponents.

There has been a rule against this type of scouting since 1994. There is also a ton of video available for coaches to use in scouting. Even fans have access to the All-22 film if they want.

According to Yahoo Sports, the Big Ten has been made aware that Michigan is under investigation.

What does this mean for Michigan football?

It’s certainly not good. I don’t know if it’s going to have any ramifications on this season, but the report did state that two teams told Yahoo Sports that Michigan knew their signs.

This sort of thing isn’t uncommon. Sign stealing is as old as time, which is why programs are constantly changing up their signs and using different methods of signaling.

It’s not going to be a great look for Jim Harbaugh with everything else going on. My hope is that he didn’t approve at any time of the video of signals. The timing is curious since a new contract was being worked on this week, but it is what it is.

We’ll have to wait for more details to come out.