Report confirms CMU staff arranged Connor Stalions’ sideline role against Michigan State

New reporting confirms that former Michigan staffer Connor Stalions was not on Central Michigan’s sideline against Michigan State in 2023 on his own or at under direction from Michigan, but rather at the direct request of CMU coaches. The revelation matches our reporting from late July that Central’s staff arranged for his presence to assist in deciphering signals against the Spartans.

A source confirmed to CBS News Detroit that Stalions’ sideline credential and CMU-issued gear were coordinated by a Chippewas coach, with then-head coach Jim McElwain likely aware of and approving the arrangement. Two additional sources told CBS the request was made specifically so Stalions could aid Central in its season opener.

CBS NEWS DETROIT: Central Michigan staff arranged for Connor Stalions to assist during 2023 MSU game, sources say

Distinction from Michigan’s case

The findings draw a sharp line between Central Michigan’s actions and the violations levied against Michigan and former head coach Jim Harbaugh. Michigan faced penalties for failure to monitor during the NCAA’s advanced scouting investigation, but there is no evidence that the university directed or had knowledge of Stalions’ involvement with CMU. Instead, Stalions operated independently at the behest of another program.

Stalions, who became the face of Michigan’s sign-stealing saga, was handed an eight-year show-cause penalty Friday. But the NCAA’s Notice of Allegations for Central Michigan, finalized in June, included no ties to Michigan’s program.

Fallout at Central Michigan

The incident has left a mark on CMU’s football program. McElwain retired after the 2024 season and now serves in an off-field administrative role. Quarterbacks coach Jake Kostner, a former Michigan student assistant, also departed the program, while longtime assistant Mike Zordich quietly exited the staff list amid the controversy.

The NCAA investigation into Central Michigan remains ongoing. According to CBS Detroit, McElwain himself is a subject of the inquiry, raising further questions about institutional oversight.

Broader implications

Stalions’ presence on CMU’s sideline was one of the more scandalous moments of the saga when images first circulated, with many wondering if Michigan had sent him to spy on Michigan State. These latest confirmations erase that theory and instead point to a coordinated effort by CMU staff — a significant twist in the broader saga that has dominated college football headlines since 2023.