Pete Thamel calls Michigan sign-stealing scandal 'unprecedented,' provides insight on next steps in investigation

ESPN’s Pete Thamel joined Saturday’s edition of College GameDay to tackle the biggest topic in college football at the moment, the Michigan sign-stealing scandal.

Speaking with the usual crew, Thamel elaborated on the latest in the case, and stressed that it’s taken the highest priority with the NCAA.

“The latest development in the Michigan sign-stealing probe came on Friday night. My colleague Dan Murphy interviewed a former Division III coach, who said that Connor Stallions, the Michigan analyst at the heart of this probe, paid him to record multiple Big Ten games. Stallions of course has been suspended with pay, as the NCAA investigates whether Michigan broke NCAA rules to steal signs,” Thamel said. “NCAA rules make it clear that both scouting the opposition in person, and using electronics to steal signs, is illegal. ESPN reported this week that Stallions bought tickets to at least 35 games in 17 stadiums the last three years, including at 12 of the 13 Big Ten schools.

“NCAA enforcement officials were in Ann Arbor this week, and it’s a sign of the priority that the NCAA is taking in this case.”

As for any potential punishment the Wolverines are facing, Thamel believes the situation as a whole is unprecedented, and it’s going to be fascinating to see what the end result is.

“For Michigan this year, looking ahead, it’s important context that this is all unprecedented. The NCAA has never investigated a sign-stealing probe of this scope,” Thamel added. “The Big Ten, which has some autonomy here, has never had to contemplate actions in-season, against a team that has the ability to win a national title. So I think this week looking ahead, the spotlight is going to shift to Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti, who has the authority to rule a sportsmanship violation, and then they would have to get a Big Ten panel together to discuss the potential punishments to Michigan.

“Will that happen this week? No one’s sure. As for Jim Harbaugh, this is another issue that he has to face. There’s three major issues looming over the Michigan program right now. There’s the FBI investigation into former assistant Matt Weiss, and then there’s the recruiting scandal that’s unfolded this year and has already cost Jim Harbaugh three games, with a self-imposed suspension. Things are piling up at Michigan for Jim Harbaugh.”

As you can see, there’s much more for the NCAA to investigate before we get to the bottom of the issues at Michigan. Nevertheless, the Wolverines remain at the top of many polls moving forward, and they’ll just look to keep winning until a punishment fits the crime.