The Ohio State Buckeyes may have helped the TCU Horned Frogs beat the Michigan Wolverines.
The TCU Horned Frogs beat the Michigan Wolverines in the 2022 College Football Playoff semi-finals in a tight 51-45 matchup, sending the Big 12 champions to their first national title game in the CFP era.
And, were it not for the Ohio State Buckeyes, they have not have been able to reach that milestone.
Per Yahoo! Sports Reporter Ross Dellenger, the Buckeyes were one of a handful of teams that reached out to the Horned Frogs to warn them of Michigan's elaborate sign-stealing scheme.
Wrote Dellenger:
Many of those on the TCU staff were unaware before the calls. Coaches from several Big Ten schools, including Ohio State, informed TCU coaches of the scheme.
“Literally everybody we talked to knew,” said one TCU coach. “They’d say, ‘Just so you know, they steal your signals and they’re going to have everything so you better change them.’”
As a result of Ohio State's warning, the Horned Frogs changed their signs from the sidelines and were able to outduel the Wolverines head-to-head.
The Horned Frogs then ran into Georgia - who took down the Buckeyes 42-41 in their semi-final game - in the national title game, losing 65-7 in Los Angeles.
The Buckeyes had front-row seats to Michigan's scheme in 2022, with photos and videos emerging of the perpetrator of the scheme, Connor Stalions, assisting coaches and coordinators during the matchup with Ohio State.
The Wolverines went on the win that game 45-23 and win the Big Ten championship.