CFB insiders call for Michigan to be potentially banned from Big Ten title game over sign stealing

The Michigan Wolverines and head coach Jim Harbaugh are at the center yet another scandal. The program is being investigated in a potential sign-stealing scandal that could result in some sort of discipline from the NCAA and/or the Big Ten Conference.

Several college football writers are now starting to float the idea of potentially banning the team from this year's Big Ten championship game pending the results of the investigation. Such a move would obviously have significant ramifications for the Wolverines' College Football Playoff hopes. 

The issue for Michigan isn't necessarily that the team has allegedly stolen signs, as there is nothing in the NCAA rule book against such an activity.

The issue is that the NCAA strictly prohibits in-person scouting of an opponent in the same season. A Michigan staffer, Connor Stalions, is accused of purchasing tickets to several other Big Ten games before those teams play Michigan.

Michigan is accused of developing an elaborate system to identify teams' signs and steal them with that knowledge acquired by Stalions. Harbaugh has denied any knowledge of the scheme. 

The NCAA is reported to be receiving evidence that includes stadium security video showing Stalions filming the home team's sidelines. 

If the NCAA finds that is what happened and Michigan was using that information to steal signs, there will certainly be some sort of sanction and punishment handed out. It is simply a matter of what that might be. This week, several of the top college football writers around the country, including Stewart Mandel and Jon Wilner, have already called for the Big Ten to consider banning Michigan from playing in its conference title game. 

That would be a significant penalty for Michigan as it relates to earning a spot in the College Football playoff. Given the current state of college football and how important NIL is in recruiting, hitting a program with recruiting bans or taking away a handful of scholarships is not really a damaging punishment. The only postseason ban that anybody would deeply care about would be something that prevents a top team from getting to the playoffs given how little value the regular bowl games seem to have. 

Harbaugh has already been at the center of an investigation this season and served a self-imposed three-game suspension relating to recruiting violations during the COVID restrictions. 

Michigan is 8-0 and clearly one of the top teams in the country and a heavy favorite to reach the College Football Playoff for a third consecutive season.