In a season where the Wolverines were questioned for their sportsmanship, for their ability to follow the rules, and for their alleged use of spying on opposing teams, they’ve reached the top of the college football world.
The University of Michigan has won the national championship for the 12th time in school history – their first since 1997 and only their second since the modern era of the AP Poll in 1960.
Michigan was able to stun their opponents – the University of Washington – early in the game with a coordinated ground attack that they effectively used to overwhelm the Huskies, going on to win 34-13.
It capped off a season where head coach Jim Harbaugh was suspended for six games in total – three games for a recruiting violation and then another three for being at the center of a coordinated sign-stealing scandal involving coaches recording opposing teams’ signals. It’s enough scandals to make college football fans wonder how long it may be before the NCAA strips the Wolverines of this national title.
But tonight, there is little doubt that the Wolverines are the best team in college football – ending their season undefeated. The only question that remains is if Harbaugh’s men did so under less-than-kosher means.
The Michigan Wolverines’ high-octane running game led them to winning a national title
Blake Corum (2) rushed for 134 yards on 21 carries for two touchdowns on the night
Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr (9) struggled throughout the evening
Michigan racked up 443 yards of offense, with an alarming 303 of those being gained on the ground.
Compare that to Washington, who only rushed for a measly 46 as star running back Dillon Johnson battled an injury he picked up in the Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day.
But the most shocking performance came from the Huskies’ vaunted passing game -especially from their star quarterback and Heisman Trophy runner-up Michael Penix Jr.
Penix routinely overthrew or missed his targets. Some of the few momentum-swinging completions were called back due to penalties. He only made one completion for over 20 yards all night – a far cry from his normal output – as he finished completing only 27-of-51 passes for 255 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. He likely could have thrown more.
But equally culpable was the receiving corps itself. Rome Odunze, a top-3 receiver in the upcoming NFL Draft class missed a catch that would have surely meant a Huskies touchdown. He ended the night with five catches for 87 yards.
Jalen McMillan was the sole receiver who caught a touchdown all night long. He ended with six catches for only 33 yards.
While Washington’s offense deserves criticism, the team’s defense was equally responsible for letting the Wolverines run all over them – dooming their chances.
Blake Corum was this team’s main executioner. 21 rushes for 134 yards and two touchdowns repeatedly bludgeoned the Washington defensive line into a pulp.
Penix barely completed half his passes on a night where passer and catcher failed each other
Washington’s star receivers failed tonight – with Rome Odunze missing this would be TD catch
Donovan Edwards broke off two big runs in Michigan’s first two drives to build a big lead
After Edwards’ early dominance, Corum got going and had a phenomenal game
When Corum wasn’t on the field, Donovan Edwards was more than capable of providing serious damage. On the opening drive, he broke off a 41-yard run for a touchdown.
The next offensive drive, he cracked open the Huskies once again for a 46-yard rush to the house to put the Wolverines up 14-3.
While Washington was able to respond – with Penix finding McMillan for a touchdown before halftime to make it 14-10 – they repeatedly got in their own way.
The first play of the second half was a Penix interception. That led to a Michigan field goal, with Washington responding in kind to make it 20-13.
Six punts followed on from that before Michigan quarterback JJ McCarthy found Colston Loveland for 41 yards on his longest pass of the night. Four plays later, Corum rushed for a TD to make it 27-13.
The game essentially ended when Penix tossed his second interception of the night just 30 yards out from the end zone. He heaved up a prayer on 4th and 13 which was picked off and returned 81-yards to the Michigan 8-yard-line by Mike Sainristil.
JJ McCarthy finished the night completing only ten passes, but for 140 passing yards
Michigan fans will go to bed happy tonight, but after a season full of scandals, questions will arise over if they will remain champions or if the NCAA will sanction them out of their title
It took only two plays before the run game found the end zone again. The rest of the night was a formality.
In the years to come, there will be many questions asked about this Michigan team and how ‘deserving’ it is of a national title. In a vacuum, this game showed they more than deserved it. But the NCAA never operates in a vacuum.
So while Michigan can go to bed as ‘The Victors’ tonight, there may come a day – not tomorrow, but possibly some day – they may wake up to a colder reality than they live in now.