If the newest update concerning CMU vs. MSU feels laced with irony, it’s because it is. The game that once ended Connor Stallions’ college career has just made its way back into the headlines. But this time, Stallions isn’t the one in trouble.

“I was there for a few though, you know, back in 2022, but in 23, I knew something was going on, something shady was going on. You know, Central Michigan started off pretty hot and, uh, Michigan State pulled away in the third quarter. It just felt like something was off. But it’s good to know that, uh, Central Michigan has been righted in this.” Connor Stallions said as he appeared on the November 14 episode of Locked On to discuss the game with Isaiah Hole.

That accusation now carries added weight following the NCAA’s recent sanctions against Michigan State. The committee ruled that the Spartans committed recruiting violations, requiring the program to vacate 14 wins from the 2022-2024 seasons. The CMU game? Included. The NCAA determined that between October 2021 and March 2023, former Michigan State general manager Saeed Khalif and former assistant coach Brandon Jordan knowingly provided more than $10,000 in impermissible recruiting inducements to six prospects who visited campus for unofficial visits.

While the committee didn’t find Mel Tucker directly involved, the NCAA determined he failed to “adequately monitor” the program’s operations. “Members of the NCAA’s Committee on Infractions noted Tucker ‘followed an NFL model for his program’ by allowing Khalif to control his program’s operations as general manager. And as a result, failed to adequately monitor his program,” the ruling read.

NCAA rules being murky is proven again. The NCAA ruling against Michigan State is a bit too much, considering the earlier sanctions against the Michigan Wolverines. The NCAA said vacating any wins or titles would be unfair to the current student-athletes. One program gets off easy, another is hammered, and somewhere in the middle, former offenders are suddenly cast as moral authorities. But apparently, they have different standards for each program.

In recent months, Connor Stallions has emerged as an unlikely advocate for fairness in college football. A few weeks ago, he talked about the false ruling by the Big Ten regarding the QB swap done by Lincoln Riley in the Northwestern game.

Connor Stallion calls out the Big Ten over a wrong ruling

Connor Stallion took to the platform X as he expressed his views on the player swap incident. “Another example of the NCAA, Big Ten & Pete Thamel not understanding their own sport & rules. Position ≠ Alignment,” Stallions wrote on X. The incident unfolded in USC’s game against Northwestern last week.

Lincoln Riley deployed one of college football’s most controversial trick plays in USC’s 38-17 victory over Northwestern. Disguising reserve quarterback Sam Huard as punter Sam Johnson by having him wear the same No. 80 jersey during a crucial play in the second quarter. The Trojans weren’t fouled in the match following the play, and the play resulted in a conversion.

Although Riley insisted the play was “entirely legal,” as Huard was listed on the game-day roster with the number change. The Big Ten disagreed three days later. Citing NCAA Rule 9-2-2 under “Unfair Tactics,” which prohibits two players at the same position from wearing the same number during a game, and stated USC should have received a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Obviously, it mandated a bigger penalty, as pointed out by Stallion. Anyway, the Big Ten has said it will keep looking into it.