Central Michigan, Jim McElwain under investigation for Connor Stalions' presence on sideline

According to Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports, Central Michigan head coach Jim McElwain is being investigated by the NCAA. It’s related to Connor Stalions being on the team’s sideline during the 2023 season opener against Michigan State.

“Central Michigan coach Jim McElwain is the subject of an ongoing NCAA investigation involving Connor Stalions’ appearance on the Chippewas sideline last fall, sources told CBS Sports,” Dodd said in his report. “The NCAA is seeking to determine if McElwain had a role in allowing Stalions on the sideline of the Chippewas’ season opener against Michigan State.”

McElwain goes through the investigation as the current Central Michigan head coach, being in the middle of his sixth season in charge. Dodd says if the NCAA determines McElwain was involved in Stalions being on the sideline, there would be “major violations.”

There have been questions from the media to McElwain regarding the situation. He has denied being aware of Stalions being on the sideline in the past.

“We … were totally unaware of it,” McElwain previously said, also via CBS. “I certainly don’t condone it in any way, shape, or form, and I do know that his name was on none of the [sideline] passes that were let out.”

The game in question took place in East Lansing, one Central Michigan lost by 24 points. Pictures of Stalions being on the sideline emerged once the sign-stealing scandal broke following the Michigan-Michigan State rivalry game. Stalions eventually resigned from his position in the program. Of course, the Wolverines won that game en route to an undefeated season and a national championship.

Michigan itself is still being investigated by the NCAA for the in-person scandal. However, Dodd does report the Michigan and McElwain investigations are separate from one another.