Connor Stalions and the Tennessee-South Carolina Conspiracy: Did He Share the Vols’ Signals?

In the ever-evolving landscape of college football, rumors and controversies often swirl around high-stakes games, and the 2022 Tennessee Volunteers’ shocking 63-38 loss to the South Carolina Gamecocks is no exception. A persistent theory has emerged, alleging that Connor Stalions, a former Michigan Wolverines staffer implicated in a sign-stealing scandal, provided South Carolina with Tennessee’s defensive signals, contributing to the upset that derailed the Vols’ College Football Playoff (CFP) hopes. On September 4, 2025, Stalions addressed these claims on the *Bunch Formation* podcast, vehemently denying any involvement, per *on3.com*. This article delves into the origins of the conspiracy, Stalions’ statements, the evidence—or lack thereof—supporting the claims, Tennessee’s 2025 outlook, and the broader implications for college football integrity.

## The 2022 Tennessee-South Carolina Game: A Shocking Upset

On November 19, 2022, No. 5 Tennessee traveled to Williams-Brice Stadium to face an unranked South Carolina team in a game that was expected to be a formality for the Volunteers, who were 9-1 and in contention for a CFP berth. Instead, the Gamecocks delivered a stunning 63-38 victory, one of the most lopsided losses in Tennessee’s modern history, per *ESPN*. South Carolina’s offense, led by quarterback Spencer Rattler, exploded for 606 total yards, including 438 passing yards and six touchdowns, per *CBS Sports*. The loss, compounded by the season-ending ACL injury to Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker, eliminated the Vols from CFP contention, per *si.com*.

The game’s outcome raised eyebrows due to South Carolina’s prior struggles. The Gamecocks were 6-4, with a 3-4 SEC record, and had shown inconsistent offensive output, averaging 24.7 points per game before facing Tennessee, per *on3.com*. Their sudden ability to dissect Tennessee’s defense, which had allowed just 22.5 points per game, fueled speculation that they had an unfair advantage, per *atozsports.com*. Enter Connor Stalions, a Michigan staffer whose sign-stealing activities later became a national controversy, per *yahoo.com*.

## The Connor Stalions Controversy

Connor Stalions, a former off-field analyst for Michigan, was at the center of a 2023 NCAA investigation into illegal sign-stealing. He was accused of orchestrating a scheme to scout opponents’ games in person, purchasing tickets to record sidelines and decode signals, a violation of NCAA rules, per *espn.com*. In 2022, Stalions bought a ticket to Tennessee’s home game against Kentucky on October 29, where the Vols won 44-6, per *saturdaydownsouth.com*. Although he did not attend, he transferred the ticket to an associate, raising questions about his intent to gather Tennessee’s signals, per *bvmsports.com*.

The conspiracy theory suggests that Stalions shared Tennessee’s defensive signals with South Carolina, enabling their offensive outburst three weeks later, per *si.com*. This theory gained traction due to a connection between Michigan and South Carolina: Gamecocks defensive coordinator Clayton White had previously worked under Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh at Stanford, per *atozsports.com*. *Football Scoop* reported in 2023 that Stalions may have shared signals with other programs to disrupt potential CFP matchups, further fueling speculation, per *yahoo.com*.

## Stalions’ Denial on the Bunch Formation Podcast

On September 4, 2025, Stalions addressed the Tennessee-South Carolina rumors on the *Bunch Formation* podcast with *The Athletic*’s Chris Vannini and David Ubben, per *on3.com*. He dismissed the allegations as “one of the dozens of conspiracies out there,” stating, “I’ve never met anyone at South Carolina. I’ve had one discussion in my life with an SEC team regarding signals, and that was back in 2019 when we played Alabama in the Citrus Bowl.” Stalions emphasized his relationships with Tennessee quarterbacks Joe Milton and Hendon Hooker, saying, “I’d ask Joe Milton and Hendon Hooker; they know the truth. I’m tight with both of them. There was no trying to screw over Tennessee.”

Stalions further argued that if he had Tennessee’s signals, he would have kept them for Michigan’s potential CFP matchup, stating, “If I had everything on Tennessee, why would I not want to play them in the playoffs? I never watched Tennessee film to decipher their signals.” He noted Tennessee’s up-tempo offense, which snaps the ball within eight seconds, made signal-stealing less impactful, per *yahoo.com*. His comments aimed to quash the rumors, but skepticism persists among Tennessee fans, per *knoxnews.com*.

## Examining the Evidence

The evidence linking Stalions to South Carolina’s upset is circumstantial and lacks definitive proof. Key points include:

– **Ticket Purchase**: Stalions’ purchase of a ticket to the Tennessee-Kentucky game, close enough to observe the Vols’ sideline, suggests intent to scout signals, per *saturdaydownsouth.com*. However, his absence from the game and transfer of the ticket to an associate weaken the direct connection, per *bvmsports.com*.

– **South Carolina’s Performance**: The Gamecocks’ 63 points and 606 yards against Tennessee were an outlier, as they averaged 30.8 points in their other 12 games, per *CBS Sports*. This anomaly fuels suspicion, but no concrete evidence ties Stalions to their game plan, per *si.com*.

– **Michigan-South Carolina Connection**: Clayton White’s prior work with Harbaugh at Stanford (2007-09) provides a plausible link, per *atozsports.com*. However, no documented communication between Stalions and South Carolina has surfaced, per *yahoo.com*.

-Stalions’ Track Record**: Stalions’ sign-stealing scheme targeted multiple teams, including non-Big Ten programs like Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia, per yahoo.com*. His 2022 activities, including scouting Clemson, suggest a broader operation, but no specific evidence confirms sharing with South Carolina, per rubbingtherock.com*.

-Tennessee’s Defensive Signals**: Tennessee’s defense, under coordinator Tim Banks, used complex signals in 2022, but their up-tempo style limited reliance on sideline communication, per *on3.com*. This reduces the likelihood that stolen signals were the sole reason for South Carolina’s success.

*knoxnews.com* notes that while the theory is compelling, “no smoking gun” exists. *si.com* adds, “The rumor persists because of the game’s outcome and Stalions’ reputation, but it remains speculative.”

Tennessee’s Perspective and Fan Sentiment

Tennessee fans remain skeptical of Stalions’ denial, with the 2022 loss still a sore point. The game cost the Vols a CFP spot and saw Hooker’s injury, a turning point in their season, per *tennessean.com*. On X, @VolFanatic tweeted, “Stalions can deny it all he wants, but South Carolina didn’t just magically drop 63 on us.” @VolsNation added, “Shady stuff with that ticket buy. Something’s fishy.” The sentiment mirrors Indiana Pacers fans’ glee over Patrick Beverley’s NBA struggles, as both fanbases relish perceived justice against those who wronged them, per *IndyStar*.

Tennessee’s athletic department has not commented directly on the conspiracy, focusing instead on the 2025 season. Coach Josh Heupel, speaking on August 26, 2025, emphasized preparation for the ETSU home opener, per *on3.com*. The Vols’ 45-26 win over Syracuse on August 30, 2025, and their No. 12 AP Poll ranking signal a forward-looking approach, per *ESPN*.

Tennessee’s 2025 Outlook

The Volunteers enter 2025 with high expectations, bolstered by key additions and a 10-3 record in 2024, per *CBS Sports*. Transfer quarterback Joey Aguilar, running back Dylan Sampson, and five-star safety Caleb Downs, who flipped from Ohio State, anchor a talented roster, per *on3.com*. The return of Peyton Manning as a coach, potentially mentoring Aguilar, adds strategic depth, per *sportaville.com*. Freshman Boo Carter’s breakout potential further strengthens the secondary, per *VolReport*.

Tennessee’s schedule includes a home opener against ETSU on September 6, followed by SEC battles against Georgia (September 13), Florida (October 11), and Alabama (October 18), per *utsports.com*. A projected 10-2 or 11-1 record positions them for a CFP berth, per *SI.com*. The ETSU game, a likely blowout (42-10, per *247Sports*), allows Tennessee to refine their offense and test Downs and Carter against ETSU’s run-heavy attack, per *rockytopinsider.com*.

Broader Implications for College Football

The Stalions conspiracy highlights ongoing concerns about competitive integrity in college football:

– **Sign-Stealing Scandals**: Stalions’ actions, part of a broader Michigan investigation, have prompted NCAA scrutiny of in-person scouting, per *espn.com*. The lack of conclusive evidence in the Tennessee case underscores the difficulty of policing such schemes, per *yahoo.com*.

– **Information Sharing**: The theory that Stalions shared signals to disrupt CFP matchups reflects the high stakes of playoff contention, per *atozsports.com*. Similar allegations against Clemson in 2022 suggest a wider issue, per *rubbingtherock.com*.

Technology and Signals**: Tennessee’s up-tempo offense, noted by Stalions, reduces reliance on stealable signals, per *on3.com*. The NCAA’s exploration of helmet communication, tested in 2024, aims to curb sign-stealing, per *CBS Sports*.

fan and Media Dynamics**: The persistence of the conspiracy, amplified on X, mirrors the Pacers’ narrative of fan vindication against Beverley, per *IndyStar*. Social media fuels speculation, but without evidence, it risks becoming folklore, per *knoxnews.com*.

Stalions’ Current Status

Stalions resigned from Michigan in November 2023 amid the NCAA investigation, which led to a three-game suspension for coach Jim Harbaugh and a two-game ban for successor Sherrone Moore in 2025, per *atozsports.com*. Now a high school coach, Stalions’ denial on the *Bunch Formation* podcast aims to clear his name, but his reputation remains tied to the scandal, per *yahoo.com*. *bvmsports.com* notes his comments about Milton and Hooker suggest personal connections, but they do little to quell Tennessee fans’ suspicions.

 

The theory that Connor Stalions provided South Carolina with Tennessee’s signals in 2022 remains a compelling but unproven narrative. His September 4, 2025, denial on the *Bunch Formation* podcast, coupled with the lack of concrete evidence, suggests the conspiracy is more speculation than fact, per *on3.com*. The 63-38 loss, driven by South Carolina’s offensive explosion and Hooker’s injury, was a defining moment for Tennessee, but attributing it solely to signal-stealing oversimplifies the game, per *si.com*. As the Volunteers prepare for their 2025 home opener against ETSU, with Aguilar, Downs, Carter, and Manning leading the charge, they aim to move past 2022’s pain, per *VolReport*. Like Pacers fans celebrating their team’s rise, Vols fans are focused on a CFP run, leaving the Stalions saga as a lingering but unsubstantiated footnote in their storied history.