Colorado coach Deion Sanders doesn’t buy into the whole sign-stealing thing. You still have to play the game.

Sanders offered his thoughts in the wake of the NCAA investigation into the Michigan program. Sanders’ comments come after the latest that a Michigan staffer reportedly purchased tickets to more than 11 Big Ten games over the last three season. The sign-stealing operation includes video evidence of electronics prohibited by the NCAA to steal signs and “a significant paper trail.”

“Everyone’s trying to get an edge,” Sanders said. “Everyone’s trying to get whatever edge they can. You could have someone’s whole game plan. They could mail it to you. You still got to stop it. You still got to stop it. In football, it’s not as pronounced as baseball. If I know a curveball is coming, I got you. With football, I don’t give a dern if you know a sweep is coming, you still got to stop it. Physically, it’s a physical game. You’ve got to stop it. So that’s a little tough. I don’t buy into a lot of stuff that someone is stealing this, stealing that. I don’t buy into that stuff. You still got to play the game.”

Sanders used his time as a player with the San Francisco 49ers as an example. When they played Dallas, for example, you knew Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin and Jay Novaceck were getting the ball, but you couldn’t stop them.

The Associated Press confirmed through officials at three Big Ten schools that they had found electronic purchases of game tickets in Stalions’ name. The officials spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because no one was authorized to speak publicly about an ongoing investigation.

One school found ticket purchases under Stalions’ name to at least four of its home games over the past two years, one of the people said.

Another school found ticket purchases under Stalions’ name to five home games over the last three seasons and that some of the tickets were electronically transferred to other individuals’ names, another person said. A third school found a purchase under Stalions’ name to a game two weeks before its team played Michigan last season, another person said.

Michigan announced Friday that Stalions had been suspended with pay, pending the conclusion of the investigation. Michigan spokesman Dave Ablauf said Monday the school could not comment on the ongoing investigation.

At least one school has found video surveillance footage from inside its stadium that showed an individual appearing to use a cell phone to record what was happening on the field, ESPN reported. The network also said he purchased tickets for Ohio State’s home game with Penn State on Saturday, though the tickets were not used; Michigan plays both teams later this season.

Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh has denied any knowledge of anyone in his program stealing opponents’ signals. Harbaugh served a three-game suspension earlier this year for unrelated NCAA violations.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.