Some interesting news was reported on Thursday as Central Michigan had some sanctions levied on them by the NCAA after its involvement with Connor Stalions — the news stemmed from the sideline saga while the Chippewas played Michigan State.
Stalions, who everyone knows by now helped Michigan obtain opponents’ film illegally, was pictured on the sidelines for Central Michigan’s 2023 matchup with Michigan State in East Lansing. Then-head coach Jim McElwain claimed he knew nothing about it and the staff was also unaware, but Stalions was seen interacting with the coaches throughout the game with a disguise on.
On Thursday, the NCAA “punished” Central Michigan with some show-cause penalties for current and former coaches, as well as a small fine. It was not even a slap on the wrist, it was a whispered reprimand.
Michigan State fans were obviously annoyed by the news because Central hadn’t taken accountability throughout the investigation and the Spartans paid the Chippewas.
Fans wanted to see new AD J Batt give a fiery response to the news and demand that Central either pays Michigan State back or they don’t schedule the Chippewas. That’s what everyone wanted to hear — a backbone in action.
Instead, Batt and MSU President Kevin Guskiewicz gave a bland, weak response that was honestly kind of embarrassing. They accepted CMU’s apology and thanked them for addressing the issue.
Statement from Michigan State on today’s NCAA sanctions against CMU: pic.twitter.com/9J7IY1LqcA
— Tony Paul | Detroit News (@TonyPaul1984) October 30, 2025
I’m willing to give these two guys a one-time pass because they’re new to the university (one more than the other), but this stuff can’t fly moving forward. Accepting another school’s disrespect like what Central did to Michigan State is just embarrassing.
Hopefully Batt holds out on scheduling Central Michigan while he’s here.