Former Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud on Michigan sign-stealing allegations: 'That's my past life'
When asked about allegations of Michigan football stealing opponents' signs, former Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud did not want to look back.
"I don't know what's going on. That's my first time hearing that. That's my past life," Stroud, now a Houston Texans quarterback, told reporters Thursday. "I'm not the type of person to go back and 'Oh, they did that.' They beat us. It is what it is. I'm not super happy with that, but man I'm in the NFL now. I'm not worried about what happened in college. We had an idea, maybe, that that stuff was going on. But, at the end of the day, it is what it is. I'm not here to go back and forth with that. I'm a Texan now and is what it is. I'm not tripping off that."
Former Ohio State QB and current #texans QB C.J. Stroud was asked about the Michigan cheating allegations.
Stroud said he's in the NFL now and isn't looking back. But did add, "We had an idea on maybe – if that stuff was going on – but at the end of the day, it is what it is." pic.twitter.com/sUxclYOkPD— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) October 26, 2023
Both the NCAA and the Big Ten are looking into allegations that Michigan violated rules by scouting future opponents in person and used electronic equipment to record "signals given by an opposing player, coach or other team personnel."
Former Ohio State and current Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Dawand Jones told the Associated Press he suspected Michigan knew the Buckeyes' signs in the Wolverines' 45-32 win during the 2022 season.
Jones said Ohio State made some changes but couldn't change all the signals they used to call plays. He said seeing Michigan line up and know what was coming was "a little demoralizing."
"It's just sad to see it," Jones told the AP. "We're kids at the end of the day, and you don't want to cheat a kid out of a chance to showcase their skills on a national level. It's just sad to see that."
Yahoo Sports had earlier quoted an unnamed Ohio State football support staff member who said the Buckeyes "changed things up" ahead of the 2022 Michigan game to try to combat potential sign stealing.
“We heard they had a guy pick plays pretty good and had all this information from not your typical ways of getting the signals,” the staff member said. “We get into the game and it’s the second quarter. I see him across the field and he’s checking his 11x17 sheet.”
Connor Stalions, a Michigan football analytics assistant was suspended with pay as a "person-of-interest" in the NCAA investigation.
According to a report by the Washington Post Wednesday, Michigan had been using a "sign-stealing operation" involving in-person scouting and video recording since "at least last season."
Michigan, according to the report, had a "planned sign-stealing travel for the rest of the season, listing opponents' schedules, which games Michigan scouts would attend and how much money was budgeted for travel and tickets." This schedule listed "as many as eight" Ohio State games, which cost more than $3,000 in travel and tickets.
According to the report, Michigan's operation was expected to spend more than $15,000 in 2023 with scouts planning to attend "more than 40 games played by 10 opponents."
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh said in a statement he denied knowledge of any sign-stealing operation, and would cooperate fully with the NCAA investigation.
Ohio State will take on Michigan in Ann Arbor Nov. 25 at noon.
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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: C.J. Stroud, former OSU QB, addresses Michigan sign-stealing allegations
