Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh has issued a statement in response to Thursday’s announcement the NCAA is investigating the football program for allegedly stealing signs from opposing teams.

In the statement, Harbaugh denied having “any knowledge or information regarding the University of Michigan football program illegally stealing signals, nor have I directed any staff member or others to participate in an off-campus scouting assignment.”

“Teams are normally provided extensive video footage to scout opponents. At issue, according to sources, is whether Michigan used unnamed individuals to attend games of both scheduled opponents and possible College Football Playoff opponents in an effort to gather information on the signs they use to call both offensive and defensive plays.”

Dellenger and Wetzel noted sign stealing is “not technically prohibited,” but scouting opponents in person has been banned by the NCAA since 1994.

It’s unknown if there is any detailed video of information being stolen or if Harbaugh was involved in any way.

Per Dellenger and Wetzel, two teams Michigan has played this season that they became aware the Wolverines “knew their play signs.” It’s unclear if that means Michigan learned their signs within the context of a game or someone working for the program illegally learned the signs ahead of time.

Football teams will routinely change their signals in an attempt to prevent teams from being able to steal signs.

Pat Forde of SI.com wrote an article in 2020 praising Clemson for mastering the art of sign-stealing, but the Tigers were doing it legally within the context of a game.

Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields said the team implemented a huddle-based gameplan, instead of its traditional no-huddle approach, during the 2021 College Football Playoff semifinal against Clemson. The Buckeyes won that game 49-28 and gained 639 total yards.

Michigan and Harbaugh were already under investigation by the NCAA for alleged recruiting violations during a dead period amid the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The school self-imposed a three-game ban for Harbaugh that he served over the first three games this season.

Harbaugh and the football program remain subject to potential discipline for the alleged recruiting violations, despite the school’s self-imposed suspension.

Michigan is currently ranked No. 2 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll with a 7-0 record. The Wolverines will play Michigan State at Spartan Stadium on Saturday.