There’s been a lot of speculation over the last year that the South Carolina Gamecocks’ had the Tennessee Vols’ sideline signals in UT’s disastrous loss in Columbia in 2022.
There’s no proof that this was definitely the case. But there’s plenty of evidence that suggests it’s likely that South Carolina had the Vols’ signals, which would obviously help explain the shocking outcome of that game (a 63-38 win for the Gamecocks) that no one saw coming.
The crux of the theory is that infamous sign-stealer Connor Stalions and Michigan shared Tennessee’s signals with South Carolina in an effort to manipulate the College Football Playoff field in 2022. Tennessee appeared to be a lock to make the playoff in 2022 until their loss to the Gamecocks.
Here’s what we do know:
- Michigan scouted a Tennessee game in person and, according to a report from Football Scoop , the Wolverines may have shared information with opponents of potential playoff teams to disrupt their path to the playoff.
- There was a connection between Michigan and South Carolina via Gamecocks defensive coordinator Clayton White, who previously worked under then Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh at Stanford.
- South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer was fined in 2015 for accepting information about another program’s game plan.
- Just a couple of weeks before playing Tennessee in 2022, Beamer told reporters that he shares information with other programs/coaches about opponents.