NCAA penalties for Central Michigan over 2023 sideline access

The NCAA on Thursday announced penalties against Central Michigan University’s football program and four former staff members for their roles in a 2023 incident in which former Michigan staffer Connor Stalions was granted sideline access at Michigan State’s stadium and allegedly helped decipher opponent signals. The ruling places Central Michigan on two years of probation, fines the program $30,000 plus 1 percent of the football budget, and imposes multi-year show-cause orders and suspensions on former coaches and staffers, the NCAA said.

According to the NCAA’s case summary, then-quarterbacks coach Jake Kostner arranged for Stalions to be on the Central Michigan sideline during the 2023 season opener. Kostner asked equipment coordinator Nate Mason for coaching-issued gear without identifying the intended wearer and used a false name to obtain a bench pass from former director of recruiting Mike McGee. Stalions stood near members of the Central Michigan staff during the game, the NCAA found. The summary also says Kostner, Mason and McGee initially gave false or misleading information to enforcement staff during interviews but that the three later cooperated; Central Michigan...