In a highly anticipated College Football Playoff semifinal matchup, the Alabama Crimson Tide will face off against the Michigan Wolverines in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day. The Wolverines, with a perfect 13-0 record, hold the No. 1 seed, while the Crimson Tide, winners of the SEC, come in as the No. 4 seed. However, leading up to the game, Michigan has been embroiled in a sign-stealing scandal that has cast a shadow over the team.

The alleged sign-stealing scandal resulted in a three-game suspension for Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh. The accused ringleader, Connor Stallions, has since left the program after reports of his firing. The scandal has raised concerns among the Alabama players, with wide receiver Isaiah Bond revealing that the Crimson Tide players have been prohibited from watching film on their own. Running back Jase McClellan explained that this precautionary measure was taken due to Michigan's reputation for play call stealing.

According to Bond, Michigan was allegedly looking at other teams' play calls and hand signals during the first eight games of the season. Bond stated that the team was able to watch film together, but individual film sessions were restricted due to concerns about sign stealing. Offensive lineman JC Latham added that the team wanted to take no chances, especially considering the magnitude of the game. Despite these restrictions, Bond expressed confidence, stating that when they step onto the field, Michigan will have to play against them regardless of any sign-stealing attempts.

Alabama has taken extensive measures to ensure the security of their equipment and films leading up to the game. Wide receiver Isaiah Bond and running back Jase McClellan revealed that film-watching has been limited to group sessions with coaches at team facilities. Players are not receiving practice film directly on their iPads, and only coaches have access to it. These precautions come in the wake of Michigan's sign-stealing allegations, which led to coach Jim Harbaugh's suspension.

Michigan's sign-stealing controversy involved the unauthorized access of footage from a team's performance database. The NCAA and authorities are currently investigating the matter, although no security breach has been found in the database used. While the NCAA does not explicitly prohibit sign stealing, in-person scouting and the use of electronic equipment for sign stealing are not allowed.

Despite the concerns surrounding Michigan's alleged sign stealing, Alabama players remain focused on their preparations for the game. Quarterback Jalen Milroe stated that he continues to watch film on his iPad, disregarding the warnings. Offensive coordinator Tommy Rees declined to discuss Michigan's controversies, emphasizing that the team's focus is on their own preparations rather than the Wolverines.

Both Alabama and Michigan use the same company software for film viewing and data analysis. Bond mentioned that the Crimson Tide change their signals almost every game, suggesting that any worries about sign stealing may be exaggerated. He reiterated that the ultimate test will be on the field, where they will see what happens when they face each other.

The highly anticipated Rose Bowl between Alabama and Michigan will kick off at 5 p.m. ET on Monday. Fans can follow Fox News Digital's sports coverage for updates on the game and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter for more news and analysis.