The Michigan sign-stealing scandal fallout’s been a nationwide storyline during the 2023 college football season and its impact is being felt in the run up to the 2024 Rose Bowl.

Multiple Alabama football players confirmed the program changed the way it watches film in preparation for the Jan. 1 showdown with the No. 1 Wolverines in the Rose Bowl semifinal.

Players said they are not allowed to watch game film on their individual iPads, breaking with the normal routine before a game. Their explanation for the change was notable.

The implication is, well, explosive.

“You know, what Michigan is known for,” Alabama running back Jase McClellan said. “What they have out there. Just the play-call stealing.”

Receiver Isaiah Bond said the Catapult game and practice film storage system Alabama uses is at the center of the matter.

Offensive lineman JC Latham initially explained the change as an opportunity to build team unity. When asked about teammates’ comments, the starting right tackle confirmed it.

“We just didn’t want to take no chances,” Latham said. “It’s a really big game. I think we have a really great film staff and guys who make sure our film is pretty secure but we’re just taking another precaution to make sure we’re all good.”

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh was suspended for the final three games of the regular season after allegations of an organized scheme to film and decipher opposing team signals was exposed by media outlets Oct. 19. Then-staffer Connor Stallions was allegedly the ringleader of a plan to send representatives to the games of future opponents to film sideline play signals from the sideline to the field.

Questions about how deep the scandal reaches remain but there has not been public allegations of film hacking connected to Michigan.

Alabama offensive coordinator Tommy Rees opted against commenting specifically on the situation.

“The whole — I don’t want to get into the whole Michigan deal with whatever they have going on over there. That’s not a decision I’m making or anything like that. Our focus has been on how do we get our players best prepared to go play this game. Really just focus on what we can do and less about them.”

This story will be updated.