The NCAA has turned its attention to Central Michigan's part in Michigan's sign-stealing scandal.
Per the dashboard of active NCAA investigations, Central Michigan received a Notice of Allegations from the NCAA on June 27 for the role it played in Connor Stalions' scheme, triggering a 90-day response window.
The investigation officially began on Oct. 31, 2023, the same day images surfaced of a man resembling former Michigan analyst Connor Stalions on Central Michigan's sideline for the Chippewas’ season opener against Michigan State. The individual wore a disguise that included facial hair, Central Michigan attire, and sunglasses, which transmitted light in the corner, strongly suggesting they had recording capability.
Central Michigan put out a statement in late November in the wake of Netflix's documentary on the sign-stealing scandal featuring Stalions.
“We are aware of inferences made in the new Netflix documentary regarding former University of Michigan football staff member Connor Stalions accessing the CMU sidelines during our opening game last September,” it read. “For the past 10 months, CMU has fully cooperated with the NCAA’s ongoing investigation, and we will continue to cooperate with the NCAA as it works to complete its investigation.”
In the 2023 season, CMU was coached by former Michigan offensive coordinator Jim McElwain and employed Jake Kostner, who worked with Stalions as a student assistant at Michigan from 2015 to 2018, as its quarterbacks coach. McElwain stepped down from Central Michigan at the end of the year and Kostner resigned just before the start of the 2024 season.
The CMU notice of allegations comes on the heels of the NCAA Committee of Infractions' hearing with Michigan on June 6 and 7 in Indianapolis. A ruling on punishments for Michigan's sign-stealing scandal is expected before the start of the season.
