The Michigan sign stealing scandal has yet another twist, and it concerns the alleged ring leader of the operation and alleged Michigan spy, Connor Stalions. He is accused of sending money via Venmo to a Michigan recruiting staffer with the caption GA as Georgia took on Ohio State in the Peach Bowl in order to steal their play signals. However, he is pushing back on these claims.
He took to X, formerly Twitter, to claim that the money was not for stealing signs from Georgia, nor for gambling, but for actual T-shirt sales, saying that those screenshots of him receiving money for selling T-shirts was exactly what he was doing.
Venmo transactions: “Sports gambling”
Media: “I’m going to need to see proof.”Venmo transactions: Actual Marine Corps T-shirt purchase orders
Media: pic.twitter.com/GkBDwIW63Z— Connor Stalions (@cpstalions) August 12, 2025
Stalions allegedly paid a Chase Evans, a recruiting intern for Michigan, via Venmo on Dec. 30, 2022 the night before the Georgia vs. Ohio State Peach Bowl game. Another transaction was flagged, this time from October 28, 2021, when former Navy football player Nnamdi Uzoma charged Stalions for a “game.” These raised suspicions only fueled the sign stealing allegations further.
As this was happening, another Venmo-related incident regarding college football was also happening, as Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer has been accused of gambling after a Nov. 2022 transaction for “sports gambling” was paid out.
Need to hide the transactions, my guy. pic.twitter.com/bjendnlwX8
— SEC Numbers Guy (@secnumbersguy) August 12, 2025
A player gambling on games raises a lot of concerns, especially as that player may throw a game just to win a bet. However, a freshman Mateer may have been handing these payments out as an inside joke at that time, as anybody can write anything as a caption, probably giving him the benefit of a doubt.
QB John Mateer Reacts To NCAA Betting Concerns
In latest development, Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer denied involvement in gambling amid ongoing controversy. Mateer took a clear stance in his latest statement,
”The allegations that I once participated in sports gambling are false. My previous Venmo descriptions did not accurately portray the transactions in question.”
— John Mateer (@John_Mateer4) August 12, 2025
He further reaffirmed that he has “never” bet on sports and understands the seriousness of the matter.
In another similar incident, Connor Stalions was also accused of betting on sports. What aggravated the situation were shots of Venmo transactions that he was also accused of paying off a former Division III coach to attend the games of future opponents and record them at the sidelines. The coach was reportedly given “a couple hundred dollars” to attend games in 2023, and even a ticket to an Indiana vs. Penn State game at that time.
The coach was reportedly also paid via Venmo, though when the scandal surfaced, this led to Michigan suspending Stalions at that time. Activities such as in-person scouting of opponents has been banned by the NCAA, which meant that Michigan violated the rules. A probe into his actions by the NCAA is ongoing.
Related:
CFB Analyst Makes Bold Claim about Oklahoma’s Edge with John Mateer at QB
College Sports Network has you covered with the latest news, analysis, insights, and trending stories in college football, men’s college basketball, women’s college basketball, and college baseball!
