Penn State athletic director Pat Kraft shared his views on the Nittany Lions’ Big Ten rivals, the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Michigan Wolverines, in an alleged leaked audio clip. Both programs have won national championships in the last three years, leaving the Nittany Lions behind.
In an audio clip of an alleged meeting between Kraft and his players leaked by “Dead Air Sports”, the athletic director used choice words to describe Penn State’s rivals. Talking about the Buckeyes, he allegedly said:
“Ohio State is Ohio State, but f*** it — it’s not like they’re light years better than us talent-wise. We just haven’t been able to get over the f***ing hump.”
Kraft then accused the Wolverines of cheating to win the 2023 national championship.
“Michigan f***ing stinks. Fing joke. Cheated their b*lls off. That’s real, by the way. They did,” Kraft added.
What Was Penn State AD Pat Kraft Referring To With Respect To Michigan?
The cheating incident referenced in the alleged audio came under the leadership of then-Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh, who left to take the job at the Los Angeles Chargers after helping the Wolverines win the NCAA title. Michigan allegedly stole signs of its future opponents to gain an edge when they came face-to-face. The operation spanned from 2021 to 2023. Per NCAA rules, it is illegal to steal opponents’ signs.
The NCAA imposed several punishments on the program, including four years of probation, a base fine of $50,000, plus a 10% penalty on the football program’s budget and a fine equivalent to all anticipated postseason revenue sharing for the 2025 and 2026 seasons. They also faced a reduction in recruiting privileges, including a 25% cut in official team visits for the 2025-26 season, and a 14-week ban on recruiting communications during the probation period.
In terms of personnel, Michigan staffer Connor Stalions was fired by the program and was issued an 8-year show-cause order. Jim Harbaugh was also issued a 10-year show-cause order, while current head coach Sherrone Moore was given a two-year show-cause, plus a three-game suspension, which he will have to serve in 2026.
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