Michigan
Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy: Team had to ‘make it an even playing field’ vs. Ohio State in sign-stealing scandal
Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy fanned the flames of the program’s sign-stealing scandal and its rivalry with Ohio State on Wednesday by suggesting the No. 1 Wolverines were only trying to keep pace with the Buckeyes by engaging in a scheme that was ultimately deemed to violate the Big Ten’s Sportsmanship Policy.
As part of an explanation into the messages given to the team by coach Jim Harbaugh, McCarthy alluded to the “unfortunate” sign-stealing scandal, adding that around “80%” of the teams in college football steal signs.
“It’s just a thing about football. It’s been around for years,” McCarthy said during Wednesday’s CFP teleconference. “We actually had to adapt because in 2020 or 2019 when Ohio State was stealing our signs, which is legal and they were doing it, we had to get up to the level that they were at, and we had to make it an even playing field.”
The sign-stealing scandal has been arguably college football’s most fascinating — even if absurd — story, but the effects are apparent at player level, according to McCarthy.
“I just feel like it sucks,” he continued. “We do work our butts off. We do watch so much film and look for those little tendencies and spend like 10, 15 minutes on one clip alone just looking at all the little details of the posture, of the linebackers or the D-ends, the safeties off levels, the corner to the field is press but the corner to the boundary is off, little stuff like that where it’s like, you could say it’s all sign stealing, but there’s a lot more that goes into play, and a lot of stuff that gets masked, a lot of work that gets masked just because of the outside perception of what sign stealing is all about.”
The elaborate sign-stealing scheme, allegedly perpetrated by former Michigan staffer Connor Stalions, resulted in a three-game suspension for coach Jim Harbaugh to close the regular season. Stalions, who resigned on Nov. 3, allegedly bought tickets to more than 30 games involving potential future Michigan opponents for the purpose of collecting information about opposing play-call signals. NCAA rules do not allow in-person scouting. Stalions was apparently spotted with a bald head and no beard at Michigan’s Rose Bowl semifinal against the Crimson Tide.
Video footage previously showed Stalions gaining access to Central Michigan’s sideline — presumably under false pretenses — for its game against Michigan State, a top rival of the Wolverines. An anonymous former Division III coach also claimed Stalions gave him money and a game ticket to record opponents’ signs.
ROSCOMMON, Mich. (WNEM) – Power outages are starting to pop up around mid-Michigan as severe thunderstorms roll through the area.
Consumers Energy is reporting these outages:
- Roscommon County: 1,305 customers affected
- Ogemaw County: 5,989 customers affected
- Iosco County: 840 customers affected
- Clare County: 390 customers affected
- Gladwin County: 1,187 customers affected
- Arenac County: 732 customers affected
- Bay County: 222 customers affected
So far, DTE Energy is reporting 94 outages in Huron County.
Click here for the Consumers Outage map and here for DTE.
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Michigan
Whitmer says she will pull Michigan National Guard from D.C. if troops used in Trump’s Safe and Beautiful Mission
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer says that the Michigan National Guard soldiers heading to Washington, D.C., will only support the America 250 Mission and threatens to pull them if they participate in patrols under President Trump’s Safe and Beautiful Mission.
In a letter to Maj. Gen. Paul Rogers on Monday, Whitmer urges Rogers to “take all necessary measures” to ensure that soldiers only provide public safety and security during events celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States.
“If the National Guard is unable or unwilling to ensure the Michigan National Guard is only supporting the America 250 Mission, appropriately defined – and is unable or unwilling to communicate consistent with that fact – then I will end Michigan’s support for the America 250 mission,” Whitmer wrote to Rogers.
The Safe and Beautiful Mission was created under the Trump administration to deploy the National Guard to D.C. in August 2025 as part of a push to crack down on crime in the nation’s capital, despite data showing that crime had declined in recent years.
At the time, local police data showed that violent crime in the area had been declining after a spike in 2023. However, Mr. Trump criticized that data, calling them “phony numbers.”
The deployments drew criticism from officials who opposed the federal government sending the National Guard to multiple cities. In one case, Illinois and Chicago sued the Trump administration to block the deployment of troops. That suit has since been dismissed, with a judge declaring the administration’s orders to no longer be operational.
“Several governors have deployed their National Guard soldiers to support this [Safe and Beautiful] mission. As you know, I have not deployed – and will not deploy – the Michigan National Guard to support the D.C. Safe and Beautiful Mission,” Whitmer said.
CBS News Detroit reached out to the Joint Task Force for comment on Monday and has not heard back.
The nephew of Hamtramck Mayor Adam Alhabri was found dead in Menands, New York, according to authorities.
The Menands Police Department said on Tuesday that the circumstances surrounding 7-year-old Harbe Nagi’s death are under investigation.
Police say Albany County 911 received a missing child report on Sunday in a Menands neighborhood. Police say the child, who was autistic and nonverbal, had visited the neighborhood before but did not reside there.
CBS affiliate WGRB in Albany reported that the child went missing from a graduation party and was found in a neighbor’s pool, about two houses from where he went missing.
“The Menands Police Department extends its condolences to Harbe’s family, friends, and all those affected by this tragic loss,” police said.
Following news of the child’s death, Alharbi posted on social media: “We are devastated to share that he has been found deceased. Thank you to everyone who helped in the search.” Alharbi, who was first elected the mayor of Hamtramck in 2025, initially offered a $10,000 reward for the child’s return.
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