TCU Used Fake Signals Against Michigan After Big Ten Coaches Told Them The Wolverines Definitely Had All Their Signs

Yahoo — During TCU’s game against Michigan in last year’s College Football Playoff semifinal, trickery was afoot.

TCU coaches, having gained information on Michigan’s elaborate sign-stealing scheme, changed many of their play-call signals before kickoff. However, head coach Sonny Dykes and the Horned Frogs staff had grander ideas than just changing signals.

They pulled a fast one on the Wolverines.

They mixed in new play-call signals with old ones, using what one TCU staff member described as “dummy signals” in an effort to trick the UM staff. The dummy signals were old play-calls that had since been changed. Players were told to ignore the dummy signals and run the original play as called with the new signals.

“Sometimes we froze a play before the snap,” said one TCU coach. “We’d call a play and then we’d signal in another play with an old signal but we told players to run the original play.”

While TCU was unquestionably a fraudulent team last season and I had my tiffs with the Horned Frogs fanbase, I'm glad the Big Ten coaches banded together to let Sonny Dykes know he was walking into a booby trap against Michigan. Don't let those good Christian boys fall victim to the same scheme the rest of the Big Ten had.

I would love to hear one of the phone calls Dykes got from Ryan Day or James Franklin telling him about this. "Hey coach, just a heads up: Michigan has a former Marine running an espionage ring and there's definitely been someone at one of your games filming your sideline the entire time with an iPhone and they have every one of your signs. So you might want to use these next few weeks to switch some of those up or they're gonna have you locked up like you've never seen before. Have a good one."

Michigan was floored they weren't getting TCU's plays right, too. Look at Jim Harbaugh and Connor Stalions, signs in hand, befuddled as to how Quentin Johnston could be behind their defense for another 40-yard catch when they were sure it was going to be a run:

Very sad to see. I would say I almost wish Michigan had gone on to play Georgia with the Bulldogs' signs, but we already learned that wouldn't have mattered and UGA would have kicked their ass again anyway. So TCU beating the Wolverines at their own game is a fun way for UM's 2022 season to have ended.

I guess he sign stealing works pretty well until teams have a month to prepare and then Michigan turns back into a pumpkin.