Penn State head coach James Franklin talks with reporters during the Big Ten Conference media days Wednesday, July 24, 2024, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. Associated Press

INDIANAPOLIS — Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti opened this week’s three-day preseason kickoff festivities in Indianapolis by acknowledging he's still waiting for the NCAA to make a decision on the sign-stealing scandal involving Michigan.

The Wolverines, of course, didn't talk about it Thursday.

Still, Penn State coach James Franklin believes the backlash has had an impact on college football. He made it abundantly clear he believes the newly approved radio communication between coaches and players is a direct result of what the Wolverines were accused of.

“I think the whole, the whole reason this got changed is the sign-stealing deal,” Franklin said. “And it doesn’t really help. I think a lot of people that passed the rule think it did. But if you’re running a no-huddle offense and can talk to the quarterback, how do you get the information to the wideouts that are 53 yards apart from each other? You’re still going to have to signal to them. So there may be more people huddling that didn’t than in the past.”

Netflix announced earlier this week the fourth season of its series “Untold” will include “Sign Stealer.” It premieres Aug. 27 and will feature Connor Stalions, the man accused of stealing signals, who will break his silence about what happened.

But after Petitti's opening remarks, there was little discussion about the controversy — until Franklin was asked how the new communication system would impact college football. Franklin, one of the more outspoken critics last season, was up front.

“It doesn’t really resolve that,” Franklin said. “I think it’s a good rule change. I’m glad it happened. But I think the whole reason the rule got changed is because of the sign-stealing discussion and I don’t really feel that resolves it whatsoever.”