Alabama football shut down players watching film on their iPads ahead of facing Michigan in the College Football Playoff. On Friday, its opponent revealed it had done the same thing.

Wolverine offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore said Friday the program made the move in November.

“Just caught wind of things that could be going on,” Moore said. “And just told our kids, I think it was early November, ‘Hey, we’re not watching stuff on the iPads anymore. Watch it in-house and handle it that way.”

Michigan players confirmed that the team had shut down the individual film-watching for a period in November. However, they said the shutdown had resumed ahead of the Alabama game.

“Just re-shut it down,” tight end Colston Loveland said Friday. “It’s not a big deal. We’re gonna watch film as a team.”

Loveland said the team had watched film on their iPads between the two shutdowns for “A good amount of time.” Offensive lineman Drake Nugent confirmed players had been able to watch film on their own for a period in between.

He said Wolverine players can still view film on computers in meeting rooms.

“Anyone can go down there anytime with a coach or other players and watch,” Nugent said.

Alabama players said Thursday that the stoppage was due to Michigan’s reputation for sign-stealing. The Wolverines were embroiled in a scandal earlier in the 2023 season, with a staffer allegedly purchasing tickets for future UM opponent games and sending others to videotape sidelines to pick up signals.

“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.”

According to Moore, the Michigan shutdown wasn’t due to any external factors.

“Just something that we decided from our own perspective,” Moore said. “People heard some things and wanted to make sure that we’re safe on our end.”

Both Loveland and Nugent said they weren’t majorly inconvenienced by the inability to watch film on iPads.

“I mean, it’s silly, but hackers can get into anything,” Loveland said.

Alabama and Michigan face off at 4 p.m. CT Monday in the Rose Bowl. The game will be aired on ESPN.