Jack Sawyer gives revealing account from Michigan sign-stealing game

Ohio State has struggled to beat their longtime rivals, Michigan, in recent times. The Buckeyes’ last win over the Wolverines came in 2019 with losses in their last four matchups. 

But there is an asterisk. 

The NCAA launched an investigation into a sign-stealing scandal at Michigan, resulting in then-head coach Jim Harbaugh being suspended the final five games of that season by the Big Ten and the resignation of then-defensive analyst Connor Stalions for “improper conduct.”

The Wolverines had beaten the Buckeyes 45-23 in 2022, Jack Sawyer’s sophomore year at Ohio State. The defensive end recently recalled that game on the “Not Just Football” podcast, saying it felt like the two sides weren’t on a level playing field. 

“We lost by double digits and it felt like we were beating the sh*t out of them all game,” he said. “We left the field like, ‘this feels weird.’”

While Sawyer admitted Michigan beat them fair and square in 2021 and 2024, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was up. 

He recounted the Ohio State offense calling plays which would be impossible to anticipate. Yet, Michigan’s defense was not just ready, but they had their counters. 

“We ran a screen pass we had never put in. Not the formation, not the look, anything,” Sawyer said. “When we run it, as soon as the ball is snapped, everybody sniffed it out.”

Jack Sawyer could feel the impact from the sign stealing. 🤔🤔 pic.twitter.com/FmmINjSzRc

— Not Just Football (@NotJustFootball) July 28, 2025

Cade Stover was the tight end on that play who was supposed to receive the pass. In an interview during his rookie year with the Houston Texans, Stover also remembered the fishiness of the play. 

“We tried to throw a tight end screen in a formation we’ve never used before — like ever — and as soon as I lined up out wide, they start yelling ‘Screen!’ when you’re throwing a tight end screen, that’s when you know, like, ‘What the f*ck is this? We haven’t ran this before,” Stover said.

Michigan was eventually charged with 11 violations, including six Level I allegations which stemmed from the scandal and a separate recruiting investigation. 

Sawyer, meanwhile, was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft and is looking to make a name for himself at the professional level.