CMU coach Jim McElwain sure seemed to think Connor Stalions was on the team's sidelines

The Michigan sign-stealing scandal was already shaping up to be one of the weirder college football stories in years, but this week took it to a new level. And even Central Michigan head coach Jim McElwain seems perplexed by the entire situation.

On Monday, photos started floating around of someone on the CMU sidelines from the Sept. 1 matchup with Michigan State, and many believed that the unknown person was indeed now-suspended Michigan football staffer Connor Stalions. The guy looked out of place wearing sunglasses in a night game and held a strong resemblance to Stalions — who is at the center of the Michigan scandal.

Come Tuesday, McElwain spoke to reporters about the photos and he came awfully close to confirming that it was indeed Stalions. He referred to the photo subject as the “sign stealer guy.”

Full quote from CMU Head coach Jim McElwain: pic.twitter.com/AjKf37JhRf

— Kennedy Broadwell (@BroadwellK) November 1, 2023

McElwain went on to say that Stalions’ name was not on the pass list for the game. But at the very least, CMU is admitting that it doesn’t know who that person was. He was very clearly trying to blend in as a member of the CMU staff, holding a clipboard and standing near other coaches. That CMU couldn’t immediately come out and say who it was is telling.

NEW: @TheAthletic has obtained more photos of the goatee'd sunglasses person on the Central Michigan sideline at Michigan State.

CMU is looking into whether this is Connor Stalions.

Story: https://t.co/79siEcZ89r pic.twitter.com/R5AyslTIWF

— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) October 31, 2023

The entire press conference had college football fans in disbelief.