Sign stealing in football refers to the act of trying to decipher an opposing teams play-calling signs in order to gain an advantage. In college football, teams use hand signals and graphics on the sideline to communicate plays to the players, as there is no coach-to-player communication system like in the NFL. Sign stealing is a time-honored tradition across US sports, and it is a part of the game within a game. Teams allocate staffers to review opponents game footage to decipher their signals, and during games, they compare their pre-game notes with what they see on the opposing sideline to confirm if they have cracked the code or not.
While there are no NCAA or Big Ten rules against football teams trying to decipher each others play-calling signs, there are clear NCAA rules against in-person, advanced scouting of opponents during the season, as well as using electronic equipment to record another team’s signals. In-person scouting of opponents has been outlawed since 1994, and sign stealing is allowed if its not done using electronics to relay information to players or coaches. However, if a program is found to have used illegal means to capture the signals of future opponents, it could face discipline from the NCAA.
In the case of the University of Michigan football program, it has become embroiled in an alleged sign-stealing scheme that involved impermissible, in-person scouting of opponents going back as long as three seasons. The program is being investigated by the NCAA for allegedly stealing opponents signs using methods banned by the governing body. The investigation is ongoing, and if Michigan is found to have used banned methods to steal opponents signs, the program could face discipline from the NCAA.
In summary, sign stealing in football involves attempting to decode an opposing teams play-calling signs to gain an advantage. While it is a common practice, there are NCAA rules against certain methods of sign stealing, and programs found to have used illegal means to capture opponents signals could face disciplinary action.
