Suspended Michigan staffer reportedly bought tickets to non-Big Ten games, too

The alleged sign-stealing case surrounding suspended Michigan analyst Connor Stalions continues to grow.

The Associated Press, citing a person with direct knowledge of the situation, reported on Tuesday that tickets for the last two SEC championship games were purchased in the name of Stalions.

The person, speaking on condition of anonymity because no one was authorized to speak publicly about an open NCAA investigation, said electronic records revealed Stalions bought tickets to the games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

ESPN was first to report that in addition to tickets being purchased in Stalions' name to multiple games involving most of Michigan's Big Ten rivals over the past three years, he also bought tickets to the games of several potential College Football Playoff opponents. Georgia defeated LSU in the SEC championship game and went on to win a second straight national title by beating Michigan’s Big Ten rival, Ohio State, and TCU in the CFP.

Also on Tuesday, The Oregonian reported that Stalions bought tickets to Oregon's home game against Washington in 2022. Oregon was ranked No. 6 in the nation heading into the game, which Washington won 37-34, but it is unclear if that was one of the potential CFP opponents mentioned in the ESPN report.

Michigan has won the Big Ten and played in the CFP each of the last two seasons. The Wolverines lost to Georgia 34-11 in the Orange Bowl semifinal of the 2021 playoff after the Bulldogs had lost the SEC title game to Alabama. Last season, Michigan lost 51-45 to TCU of the Big 12 in the Fiesta Bowl semifinal.

On Monday, it was reported that Stalions bought the tickets under his own name, and the NCAA is expected to obtain video evidence this week of the illegal technology as part of its investigation into Michigan's alleged sign-stealing, ESPN added in its report. One Big Ten school connected a fan who appeared to be recording a game on their cell phone to a ticket for a game that Stalions purchased this season by using in-stadium technology, according to ESPN. Stalions also forwarded tickets he bought to at least three different people, ESPN reported.

Michigan and the Big Ten acknowledged the NCAA was investigating allegations of sign stealing last week. The conference informed all of Michigan’s upcoming opponents of the allegations.

The Associated Press confirmed through officials at three Big Ten schools that they had found electronic purchases of game tickets in Stalions’ name. The officials spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because no one was authorized to speak publicly about an ongoing investigation.

One school found ticket purchases under Stalions’ name to at least four of its home games over the past two years, one of the people said.

Another school found ticket purchases under Stalions’ name to five home games over the last three seasons and that some of the tickets were electronically transferred to other individuals’ names, another person said. A third school found a purchase under Stalions’ name to a game two weeks before its team played Michigan last season, another person said.

News of the NCAA's investigation into Michigan's alleged sign stealing first emerged last week. The Big Ten was notified of the NCAA's investigation on Oct. 18, saying it notified the Wolverines' future opponents in the 2023 season of the allegations. Michigan was accused of plotting to steal future opponents' signals by sending team representatives to record their games.

Michigan announced that Stalions would be suspended with pay on Oct. 20 as the NCAA conducts its investigation. Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh denied knowledge of the alleged scheme. 

"I do not have any knowledge or information regarding the University of Michigan football program illegally stealing signals, nor have I directed any staff member or others to participate in an off-campus scouting assignment," Harbaugh said in a statement after the news broke on Oct. 19. "I have no awareness of anyone on our staff having done that or having directed that action."

NCAA rules don't prohibit teams from stealing signs. However, there are rules against using electronic equipment to record an opponent's signals. The NCAA also prohibits teams from scouting future opponents in person, with NCAA Bylaw 11.6.1 stating: "Off-campus, in-person scouting of future opponents (in the same season) is prohibited." The rule was put into place in 1994 because not every school had the finances to do it. 

There were tickets purchased under Stalions' name on both sides of the stadium for the Week 8 game between Penn State and Ohio State — who both play Michigan in November — but they were not used, ESPN reported. 

Stalions is a retired captain in the Marine Corps and a graduate of the Naval Academy. He was hired as an off-field analyst at Michigan in May 2022, according to a LinkedIn profile that has been deactivated.

Michigan continued its undefeated season two days after news of the investigation came to light, arguably having its most dominant performance of the year by defeating Michigan State, 49-0. 

"There's a target, yeah," Harbaugh told reporters after Saturday's game. "Everybody has pointed that out from the beginning of the season, but our guys are very focused.

"There's been stuff. There's been attempts to diminish the team in a lot of ways, starting with the easy schedule. They just play."

Michigan improved to 8-0 with the win, keeping its No. 2 ranking in the AP Poll as a result. The timeline of the alleged sign signal stealing coincides with Michigan's re-emergence as a national title contender in 2021, winning the Big Ten in each of the last two seasons to make the College Football Playoff.

Michigan hopes to continue the streak this season. It has a bye in Week 9 before taking on Purdue on Nov. 4. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.