JJ McCarthy suggests '80%' of CFB teams steal signs, accuses Ohio State of stealing signs in 2019-20

JJ McCarthy and Mason Graham were a little ticked off by the sign stealing allegations and how they aided Michigan this season.

Connor Stalions, the alleged mastermind behind the operation, was no longer on staff at midseason and the Wolverines remained undefeated and made it to the College Football Playoff National Championship. Both players chalked it up to how well they study film, echoed by others on the team.

McCarthy gave an elaborate answer on Wednesday’s CFP teleconference.

“I also feel like it’s so unfortunate because, you know, there’s probably, I don’t want to say a crazy number, but I’d say a good number, 80% of teams in college football steal signs,” McCarthy said. “It’s just a thing about football.

“You know, it’s been around for years. We actually had to adapt because in 2020 or 2019 when Ohio State was stealing our signs, which is legal. We had get up to the level that they were at, and we had to make it an even playing field.”

JJ McCarthy says sign stealing is all over the place

Graham noted how a lot of the critique was on the defensive side of the ball since it was Michigan’s ability to read opposing offenses and get a leg up.

“Yeah, I’ve kind of just started off like, more of the allegations are coming on the defensive side of the ball,” Graham said. “You know, I feel like we just kind of watch film, you know, and we get tendencies from other teams, just like Trevor (Keegan) was saying, and we kind of just pick up on it. 

“And I feel like we just have a high football IQ here at Michigan, you know, over specific situations multiple times a week. You know, just kind of just learning more about the game every day, every meeting, just kind of building the IQ and playing smarter football. Players all around.”

McCarthy didn’t want to let Michigan’s hard work get overlooked amid the allegations. Basically, it’s why Michigan is 14-0 and playing for a national title.

“But, you know, I just feel like it sucks just because like Mason said, we do work our butts off.” McCarthy said. “We do watch so much film and look for those little tendencies and you know, spend like 10, 15 minutes on one clip alone. Just looking at all the little details of the posture of the linebackers or the safeties off levels, the corner to the field is pressed, but the corners to the boundary is off little.

“Stuff like that where it’s okay, you can say it’s all sign stealing but you know, there’s a lot more that goes into play and you know, a lot of stuff that gets masked. A lot of work that gets masked just because of the outside perception of what sign stealing is all about.”