Connor Stalions Continues to Throw Shade at Ohio State After High School Football Development

Who says the drama stays on the field? Connor Stalions isn’t letting the NCAA verdict dictate the narrative; he’s still keeping the Michigan rivalry burning, even away from the team. His enthusiasm keeps the excitement going, showing fans that rivalries never really end. After Cass Tech’s nail-biting 28-27 win over Toledo CC in high school football, Stalions were all smiles, enjoying every second. From his Michigan connections to the current situation, he’s proving that the drama goes where he does. And high school football just got a major story.

Last season’s Michigan-Ohio State clash erupted in pure bedlam. Michigan upset the Buckeyes with a 13-10 victory, and the aftermath was explosive. A Wolverines player attempted to plant a flag on the field, inciting a brawl with punches thrown, and police, including OSU PD, used pepper spray. The Big Ten fined both schools $100k, and Ryan Day’s family endured the fallout of four straight losses to Michigan. Yet, despite everything, the rivalry’s intensity remains.

And Connor Stalions just found a fresh way to taunt Ohio State. After Michigan high school team Cass Tech beat Ohio’s Toledo CC 28-27, Stalions tweeted, “Michigan > Ohio.” It was a one-point win, and he made sure everyone knew it. But this is not happening for the first time.

This Thursday, First Office Sports reported that OSU is barring the Barstool founder from entering Ohio Stadium for Saturday’s season opener against top-ranked Texas. The clash also marked Portnoy’s FOX Sports debut. This barring comes less than a year after Portnoy’s infamous “Feast Week Rivalry” rant, where he promised to bankroll Michigan’s quarterback future. And just after the news of the Portnoy ban surfaced, Stalions inserted him back in the rivalry with a tweet (that had more than 11,000 likes within an hour) aimed at the Barstool Sports founder: “You need tickets?”

Portnoy quickly fired back: “I love this F-ing rivalry. One team has to win once in awhile for it to be considered a rivalry.” While that’s that, let’s come back to the game at Tom Adams Field in the Amazon Prep Kickoff Classic.

The Fighting Irish started strong, with junior running back Jeremiah Fuller scoring a 1-yard touchdown on their first drive. This was followed by a 32-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Ali Beydoun to junior wide receiver Amari Eliano. Even with a missed extra point, Central Catholic kept the pressure on, with senior running back Anthony Sylvester’s 70-yard run and a 6-yard touchdown run by Beydoun on a 4th-down play.

By halftime, Corey Sadler Jr.’s two touchdowns, interspersed among these plays, put CCHS ahead 27-14. Cass Tech fought back in the second half, slowly closing the gap. Williams Sykes Jr. caught a 35-yard touchdown pass to make the score 27-21, and then a 46-yard touchdown catch later in the quarter, along with a successful PAT from Fabian Garza, gave DCT its first lead with 6:37 left. Central Catholic’s defense had key plays, including an interception by senior defensive back Sharard Vaughn III and a crucial sack by junior linebacker Antonio Elizondo, but their comeback attempts ultimately fell short.

In a thrilling conclusion, Central Catholic advanced into DCT territory, reaching the 30-yard line with a final shot at victory. Senior Preston Fryzel stepped up for a 45-yard field goal, but the kick veered wide right, dashing CCHS’s hopes. The team aims to bounce back in their CHSL debut against Detroit Catholic Central on September 5 at Gallagher Stadium, looking to leverage their strong offense and improve their late-game performance after the close loss to Cass Tech. Now, in between all the name-calling calling there’s a major setback that Connor Stalions is facing now.

Connor Stalions’ former team gets in trouble

The NCAA has handed down a severe penalty to Connor Stalions. The former Michigan analyst got into an eight-year show-cause order for his central role in a widespread sign-stealing scheme during the Wolverines’ 2023 season. This order, which lasts from August 15, 2025, to August 14, 2033, effectively prohibits him from participating in any college football activities. Any college program considering hiring him would be subject to NCAA oversight, essentially treating him as if he were suspended for his first year.

The ruling confirms Stalions’ involvement in illegally scouting at least 13 of Michigan’s opponents on 58 occasions between 2021 and 2023. The punishment reflects Stalions’ elaborate methods, including attending a Central Michigan game disguised in the team’s gear and allegedly using recording glasses to record signals. He also reportedly assisted a Central Michigan staffer with play-calling against Michigan State, demonstrating the breadth of his actions. The NCAA emphasized his leadership in the sign-stealing operation and detailed how he organized illicit in-person scouting of several future Michigan opponents over three seasons.

But Stalions’ fallout didn’t just stop at college football. Following his resignation from the Wolverines in October 2023, he briefly coached at Detroit Mumford High School in September 2024 before working with Belleville High School, the high school of Michigan freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood. Even though he left college football, his actions still resonate, now intensified by the NCAA’s show-cause penalty. This penalty effectively bars him from any NCAA-related athletic activities.

If a school wanted to hire Connor Stalions, it would need to adhere to the NCAA’s restrictions and ensure his compliance, likely resulting in his missing his first season. Besides Stalions, Michigan’s head coach Sherrone Moore received a one-game suspension plus a self-imposed two-game suspension, while former coach Jim Harbaugh got a 10-year show-cause order. Michigan itself faces fines and a reduction in its football budget as part of the broader penalties.