James Franklin doesn't expect helmet communication to solve sign-stealing issues in college football

Penn State Nittany Lions head coach James Franklin shared at Big Ten Media Days that he doesn’t expect helmet communication to solve issues regarding sign-stealing in college football.

The rule change to allow helmet communication comes in the wake of the sign-stealing scandal at Michigan that led to the Big Ten suspending Jim Harbaugh for the final three games of the 2023 regular season. Seemingly, it was to prevent that in the future, but James Franklin doesn’t think it will be all that helpful.

“I don’t think it’s as significant as people think,” James Franklin said. “I think the whole reason that this got changed is the whole sign-stealing deal. I think that was a big reason why this got changed, and it doesn’t really help that. A lot of people that passed the rule think it did.”

Helmet communication has been allowed in the NFL for decades but is just now being embraced by college football. It will allow coaches to communicate with one player before the snap on each play. When on offense, that will presumably be the quarterback. It’s because only one player can be communicated with that Franklin believes this rule won’t stop sign stealing.

“If you’re running a no-huddle offense and you can talk to the quarterback, how do you get the information to the wideouts that are 53 yards apart from each other? You’re still gonna have to signal,” Franklin said. “So, there may be more people that huddle than have in the past to avoid people stealing signs but it doesn’t really resolve that.”

Importantly, sign stealing is allowed within the rules, as long as it’s done a certain way. The major issue in the Michigan scandal was the use of advanced scouting to steal signs.

Regardless of how the rule addresses or fails to address sign stealing, it’s in place and something that teams need to adjust to for 2024.

“For us, either way, we’re happy with it. There are some challenges that you have on special teams because you can only have one guy on the field at once with it. On special teams, you have a blend of people on the field, and you could have some changes throughout the game where you end up with two players on the field at the same time. So, you’ve got to be strategic about that. You’ve got to be careful,” Franklin said.

“But I think it’s a good rule change. I’m glad it happened, but I think the whole reason the rule got changed is because of the sign-stealing whole discussion and I don’t really feel like that resolves that whatsoever.”

For Penn State, this rule change is coming amid major coaching turnover. The Nittany Lions are replacing all three coordinators. So, being able to communicate should help to ease that transition.