Georgia's Kirby Smart 'Never Heard of Anybody' Sign-Stealing Like Michigan Accusation

It's not just fellow Big Ten schools that have taken note of the Michigan cheating scandal that has rocked the college football world.

"I had never heard of anybody going to the games to watch and film and do all that stuff that that's going on that people are talking about," Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said, per Seth Emerson of The Athletic. "I don't know anybody that's ever done it. Or I've never been asked to do that as a young coach or known anybody to do that. I've never even heard of that."

Smart's comments are notable because the Bulldogs and Wolverines were both in the College Football Playoff the last two seasons. Georgia defeated Michigan in the semifinals of the 2021 season, but the two teams didn't play in the most recent CFP because the Wolverines lost to TCU in the semifinals.

"No I didn't notice anything or know anything; nobody we talked to warned us or anything like that," Smart said when asked about Michigan potentially stealing its signals ahead of their CFP matchup during the 2021 campaign.

"I think everybody we play they say, 'They steal your signals.' We play somebody, and they say, 'They're great at stealing your signals.' But what they're referencing (at Michigan) is different than stealing them. They're talking about people to come and film on us. But we've tried to hide the signals, hold the calls, put signs up, do all that. But there's nothing I remember about the Michigan game that makes me think that."

ESPN's Pete Thamel and Mark Schlabach reported Tuesday that suspended Michigan analyst Connor Stalions bought tickets at games outside of just the Big Ten, including to the 2021 and 2022 SEC Championship Games. He also purchased tickets for multiple games involving CFP contenders at four schools outside the Big Ten.

That is in addition to Thamel and Schlabach reporting there is record of him buying tickets at 12 of the possible 13 other Big Ten schools.

Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh, who said he never "directed any staff member or others to participate in an off-campus scouting assignment," is already under investigation for recruiting violations.

The Wolverines went 49-22 with zero Big Ten titles, zero wins over rival Ohio State and zero CFP appearances during his first six seasons as head coach. However, they are 33-3 with a 2-0 record against the Buckeyes, two conference crowns and two CFP appearances since the start of the 2021 campaign.