WATCH: Sports World Reacts To Allegations Against Michigan

The No. 2 Michigan Wolverines are a perfect 8-0 and look like one of the favorites to win the national championship. Instead of that being the focus of the national conversation surrounding Michigan, the focus is instead on an NCAA investigation that alleges the Michigan Football program was engaged in an illegal sign-stealing scheme led by a low-level staffer.

As is often the case these days, slow leaks from officials tied to the NCAA have made their way to national news outlets and ultimately to social media - where fans from all sides are serving as judge, jury, and executioner. With so much noise surrounding the allegations, here are some noteworthy comments from individuals throughout the week - including some current college football head coaches.

Matt Rhule, Nebraska

Coach Rhule touches on sign stealing and if he noticed it when they played vs. #Michigan 👀 pic.twitter.com/NsZQDtXNY3
— 247Huskers (@247Huskers) October 23, 2023

"Yea, sign-stealing happens every game," said Rhule. "There's nothing wrong with teams over there looking over trying to steal our signs, there's nothing wrong with us trying to look at their signs. That's why you should have mics on the helmets. All these coaches that vote against it every year, it's because they don't want to teach their quarterbacks."

Rhule went on to explain that the lack of technology is leading to the ridiculousness of multiple staff members and coordinators having to hold up signs to try and disguise their play calls.

"You go to a high school game, there's technology on the sideline. You go to an NFL game, there's technology on the sideline. You go to college, there's nothing."

Deion Sanders, Colorado

“You can have someone’s whole game plan, they can mail it to you, you still gotta stop it.” 🤷🏽‍♂️

Deion Sanders talking about the Michigan sign stealing scandal ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/Ss6CD3G2Nn
— College Transfer Portal (@CollegeFBPortal) October 24, 2023

"Everyone's trying to get an edge," said Sanders. "Everyone's trying to get whatever edge they can. You could have someone's whole gameplan, they could mail it to you. You still gotta stop it. So, in football, it's not as pronounced as baseball. If I know a curve ball is coming, I got you. With football, I don't give a darn if you know a sweep is coming, you still gotta stop it. Physically, its a physical game - you still gotta stop it. So that's a little tough. I don't buy into a lot of that stuff, that someone's stealing this or stealing that. I don't buy into a lot of that stuff. You've still got to play the game."

Colin Cowherd, Fox Sports

"If Purdue was doing this, nobody would care... If you didn't know a rule existed before this story, you can't be outraged by it."

— @ColinCowherd on Michigan under investigation pic.twitter.com/8WJj33yC0c
— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) October 24, 2023

"Right now, nobody can touch Michigan," said Cowherd. "They humiliate Ohio State, who humiliates generally the rest of the conference. If Purdue was doing this, nobody would care. It would be the eighth story on Fox Sports .com, nobody would care."

"When they created this rule in the mid-90's, they didn't do it because they thought it was a big competitive advantage. They did it because they thought it was unfair to the "have-nots". They couldn't afford a staffer. Before that, you could do it. And they created it trying to eliminate camcorders and film crews. Have you gone to a football game in 2023? Everybody's got a phone, everybody's taping."

Todd Blackledge, NBC Sports Analyst

💻 @Todd_Blackledge

Talked the latest in the ongoing #Michigan cheating allegations with the @NBCSports analyst, who called #GoBlue 49-0 win over MSU last Saturday night:#CFBPlayoff pic.twitter.com/3yeEpObccT
— Rich Eisen Show (@RichEisenShow) October 24, 2023

"My opinion is, look, everybody's trying to steal signs," Blackledge said. "This is not new, this is not uncommon. Everybody's looking for some form of competitive advantage, whether they're doing it off of game film of previous games, or in-game as the game is unfolding. That's why teams are constantly changing their signals through the course of the season, because they know this is happening. It's a common practice, its not illegal."

Blackledge went on to say that the accusations against Michigan go beyond what is considered the norm when it comes to sign-stealing, but that he isn't sure what (if any) punishment will follow.

"The things that now Michigan are accused of doing - in-person scouting, which never was illegal until 1994, and using some kind of electronic or recording devices - those things are illegal. And if it comes to be that they prove that this is true, then there should be some consequences for Michigan."

Lastly, Blackledge cautioned that the current accusations against Michigan shouldn't take away from how good this current football team is.

"I don't think this should take away anything of how good this Michigan football team is. How talented they are on both sides of the ball, how much depth that have at all three levels of their offense and defense. This is an outstanding football team that is playing great football, and I really don't think stealing signs - or if they were able to ascertain signals - is making that much of a difference, if any, in how they've played this year."