The Wolverines’ season-long motto of “Michigan vs. “Everyone” ended up being rather fitting in towards the end.

Yes, on Monday night on college football’s biggest stage, the Wolverines faced off against every team in the country, including the NCAA, their own Big Ten conference, and the second-ranked squad. In and out of the locker room, Michigan’s will to win a national championship was unwavering, regardless of the opposition, the NCAA probe, or the six games its head coach missed while on suspension.

And when it counted most, No. 1 Michigan delivered another victory on Monday night, defeating No. 2 Washington 34–13 in front of a reported 72,808 spectators at NRG Stadium to win the school’s first national title since it shared it with Nebraska in 1997. The Wolverines took the lead right away in the game and never looked back against the Huskies (14–1).

Running back Donovan Edwards, who had an incredible 17.3 yards per rush and finished with 103 yards and two touchdowns, remarked, “I feel like this has been the perfect happy ending.” Our ultimate objective was to win a national championship, but we also experienced a great deal of personal triumph and failure. Surviving what we have and emerging victorious is the only emotion that compares. Thus, a wonderful tale filled with much hardship—Coach Harbaugh being absent for six games—is presented.

The largest college football story of the year was about claims of a systematic sign-stealing scam reportedly headed by former staff member Connor Stalions, who resigned on November 4. This scandal will always be linked to Michigan’s national title game. The claims and controversy surrounding the program have only served to energize those involved, despite how divisive it has become throughout the country.

DE Mason Graham of Michigan stated, “It fueled us.” “All that we’ve experienced, all that they attempted to do to us, all that they tried to impugn our season’s accomplishments. Our team’s identity is cemented if we win this game. We don’t even get to see Coach Harbaugh during our game versus Penn State since he’s on the aircraft. Although we’ve faced difficulties, our squad is unique.

And its head coach is, too.

Harbaugh discovered his parents on the field once the confetti had down. He gave his 84-year-old father, who was a spitting replica of himself, a bear embrace and helped him get up. He turned to face his mother and followed suit, giving her a kiss and exclaiming, “We did it!”

“I can now sit at the big person’s table in the family,” said Harbaugh, a former quarterback for Michigan who is in his tenth year as the head coach at his alma university. “You can’t keep me over there behind that small table anymore. Both my brother John and my father Jack Harbaugh have won Super Bowls and national championships. Being seated at the head table going forward is a wonderful thing.

Michigan became the sixth team in major university football history to finish 15-0 or better in a season, and they also set the Big Ten record for the most wins in a season. This was the first time both teams had appeared in the national championship game (Michigan’s 1997 shared title with Nebraska was won one year before the first BCS National Championship game).

With a 303-yard running game and a dominating defense that forced Heisman Trophy runner-up quarterback Michael Penix Jr. into two interceptions, the Wolverines accomplished their feat the old-fashioned way.

After Michigan went out to a 14-3 lead in the first quarter, Penix and Jalen McMillan of Washington replied with a 3-yard touchdown, sending the Huskies into the locker room down 17-10. But that would be the only touchdown they would score.

Penix stated, “They’re a good team.” “We just failed to perform when it mattered most. It all comes down to execution. It seems to me that we defeated ourselves rather than them.”

All the elements were there for Michigan to have the ideal season, beginning with a seasoned quarterback in J.J. McCarthy who, while not particularly spectacular, prevailed over Penix in the turnover fight.

A dynamic tandem of running backs in Blake Corum and Edwards was made possible by Michigan’s strong offensive line, which won the fight up front. With four touchdowns combined, they each rushed for more than 100 yards. A knee ailment kept Corum out of the CFP the previous year, but he returned this year and totaled 134 yards and two touchdowns to win the offensive MVP award.

A deep passing game, or any passing game at all, would be far more difficult for the Huskies to succeed in against Michigan because of their tough defense, which also threw Penix off all evening. With 255 yards and a score, Penix completed 27 of 51 ball attempts (53%) attempts.

As Harbaugh put it, “Our defense played a spectacular game.”

Arguably the most gifted Michigan team in years, this squad relied mostly on seniors to propel them to victory. them also played with discipline, committing few penalties and mistakes. However, it wasn’t without its shortcomings.

Two NCAA investigations were conducted: one investigating allegations of recruiting infractions during the 2020 season, and the other into a massive system of sign theft. In addition, Harbaugh received a three-game ban at the start of the season and a second three-game punishment at the conclusion, the latter coming from the Big Ten for breaking the rules regarding sportsmanship by breaking the law by coming off-campus to steal signs.

Beyond that, though, Michigan’s motivation went all the way back to their Fiesta Bowl defeat at the hands of TCU to close off the 2022 season—the program’s second consecutive loss in the CFP semifinal.

“I’d say we came quite a distance, but if you want to accomplish something like this, one must continue to go through the places of darkness where the situation is not great,” McCarthy claimed. The reaction and level of urgency following the final game of the previous year was distinct. I was aware of it. simply from declaring on the platform the previous year that we will return. The folks that were returning were people I knew. I sensed that it would be wherever we are at this moment.”

Offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore guided the Wolverines to crucial victories against Penn State, Maryland, and Ohio State while Harbaugh was out for the last three games of the regular season. In response to a question about what he meant by “Michigan vs. Everyone,” Moore stated, “If you don’t agree with us, you’re versus us.”

Michigan accomplished what it has done all season, despite the controversy, outplaying its opponent, as Big Ten Commissioner Tony Petitti watched from a suite among Big Ten executives, Big Ten Network workers, and guests.

First-quarter yardage average for Michigan was an astounding 19.3 yards per carry. With their victory in the early game, the Wolverines disoriented Washington’s defense. 209 running yards were given up by the Huskies defense in the first half, which is the most the team has given up in a half since 2011. Michigan had a total of four plays of at least 35 yards.

The biggest hole Washington has faced this season was 17-3 in the first quarter.

During a risky fourth-and-seven play that the Huskies urgently needed to swing, Penix overthrew Washington’s Rome Odunze, among the best receivers in the nation, when he was wide open and inside scoring range with 10:27 left in the first half.

At a certain point in the fourth quarter, Penix had thrown an interception and completed just 26.7% of his throws that were at least five yards (4-of-15). His next pass was intercepted by Mike Sainristil, who returned it 81 yards to Washington’s 8-yard line with 4:29 remaining in the game. Corum’s second touchdown placed the Wolverines ahead 34–13, and the play set up that score.

For the second time in the middle half, Corum’s score gave some distance. Corum ran 12 yards for a touchdown with 7:09 remaining in the game to give the Wolverines a 27–13 lead. For Corum, who led the FBS with 27 total touchdowns and is unlikely to play again next season, it was a Hollywood ending. The longest stretch by a Michigan player in the previous 20 seasons, he has scored a touchdown on the ground in 15 consecutive games.

“Coaches constantly say, playmakers create plays, and don’t depend on other people for a play,” Corum claimed. “Currently had been an ended, complete collaborative effort.”

McCarthy didn’t need to be a hero in the air since he had so much success on the ground, and he completed 10 of 18 passes. McCarthy let out a sigh as he exited the locker room to head to the news conference following the game.

“We did it,” he said, “oh man.”

Opposing everyone.