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An NCAA investigation is reportedly underway involving an “unnamed” football program allegedly stealing footage from other teams.
The brewing scandal centers around Catapult, a sports performance analytics company that is widely used among college football teams. The Australian company provides software used to study game and practice footage shared between a team’s players and coaches.
Dan Wetzel of Yahoo Sports reported Friday that Catapult has confirmed the NCAA’s investigation into the “unauthorized access” of team footage.
The report added that “at least one school” is being implicated. Michigan, which has been investigated and penalized for alleged sign-stealing this season, is not the school, per Wetzel.
Catapult, a video and data analysis company used in college football, confirms the NCAA and “local authorities” are investigating “unauthorized access” of footage.
The investigation is not centered on Michigan but rather on at least one other school, sources tell Yahoo Sports.
— Dan Wetzel (@DanWetzel) December 29, 2023
Catapult released a statement on the matter to ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg and Tom VanHaaren.
“We will continue to support the ongoing investigation with the NCAA and local authorities,” the statement read. “At Catapult, we hold ourselves to the highest of standards and safeguarding customer information is of utmost importance to us.”
Catapult recently drew attention when it was mentioned Thursday by Alabama wide receiver Isaiah Bond during his news conference ahead of the Alabama-Michigan matchup in the College Football Playoff. Bond was asked particularly about the Wolverines’ sign-stealing scandal.
The 19-year-old wideout mentioned in passing that Alabama had stopped using the Catapult software individually on their tablets. When pressed on the matter further, Bond said the Tide instead resorted to teamwide film sessions due to the threat of footage potentially being stolen.
Here's Alabama WR Isaiah Bond discussing Michigan's sign stealing and the way it has impacted the way Tide players are watching film. #RollTide #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/bOPzonEnb8
— Max Cohan (@MaxCohan) December 28, 2023
A Michigan spokesperson later confirmed to Rittenberg and VanHaaren that its program was not under investigation.
Michigan believed that it was also potentially being targeted in a breach, which led the Wolverines to shut down team access to Catapult in November.
More must-reads:
- Alabama changing pregame prep in response to Michigan sign stealing
- Inside CFP numbers: History repeats itself for Alabama
- The 'College QBs who transferred schools' quiz
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