This title was rightfully Michigan’s. However, the pointless and foolish scandals will never be forgotten.

It doesn’t change the reality that Michigan didn’t have to cheat to win. It was all so pointless and foolish, yet it will always be a part of this season’s history.

Michigan Wolverines win national title, but what's next for Jim Harbaugh?
Michigan Wolverines win national title, but what’s next for Jim Harbaugh?

Houston — Jim Harbaugh stepped out and gave his 84-year-old father, Jack, a bear hug among the blue and corn confetti that had fallen onto the field at NRG Stadium and the crowd of Michigan football players and family snapping photos and donning T-shirts.

With a few moments of unbridled delight and delirious love, he lifted him off the ground and held him there. Subsequently, Harbaugh faced his mother Jackie, who angrily exclaimed, “You did it! You succeeded!

Everything about Harbaugh has been more complicated than it has to be for the past few months. But in the end, it came down to this: Michigan had won the College Football Playoff title game here, defeating Washington 34–13, to become the national champion—and rightfully so.

a record of 15 to 0.

winning against Ohio State, Alabama, and Washington to close up the season.

the nation’s top squad from the opening play till the last play.

The Wolverines left no doubt on the field. Therefore, why did Harbaugh feel the need to say the following at a press conference after it was all over?

“We are not guilty.”

I’m not here to inform you that Michigan’s much-awaited national victory is tainted—it’s the team’s first straight championship since the Korean War. It is indisputable how Michigan finished this season by defeating the top collegiate football team this year despite numerous unsettling off-field incidents. In the most significant games, the winning team prevailed, and they did so fairly.

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh hugs his dad, Jack, after the Wolverines won the national championship on Monday.

However, the Wolverines made it simple to be disillusioned with what ought to have been a fantastic tale of college football.

Following ten years of Alabama, Georgia, and Clemson dominating the playoffs, you wanted something fresh and different? This was Michigan, a team that hadn’t truly been in the running for a title since they shared one in 1997.

Do you want a squad that isn’t based on blue-chip talents and recruiting rankings? Here was Michigan, a program with classes that hardly caused a stir on signing day yet outperformed and outdeveloped everyone else.

In a time of skillful offense and poor tackling, you desire football that is tough, basic, and old-school? Michigan was reducing opponent after opponent to dust in this situation.

After two heartbreaking playoff losses and a fulfilled quarterback J.J. McCarthy vow that the Wolverines will return, are you looking for a comeback story? Here was Michigan, seizing the entire season by the scruff of the neck and turning its hopes into reality.

Would you like an overly idealistic story about a former Michigan quarterback who fell in love with the program, returned as a coach, almost lost his job, and then brought it back to greater heights than it had ever known? Here was Harbaugh, stating following the game that it would mean everything to be remembered as a Michigan man when he was laid to rest.

That was the Michigan squad. This was the story. When few believed it was possible, they managed to generate greatness.

This is nothing fancy, Harbaugh remarked. “Just some good ol’ fashioned hard work and teamwork.”

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It ought to have been easy.

It was not easy.

Furthermore, Michigan was to blame.

Harbaugh stated, “We’re innocent and we stood strong and tall because we knew we were innocent of the off-field issues.” And I want to make that clear. These men are naive. We knew we were innocent, therefore it wasn’t that difficult for us to overcome that.

So innocent that Harbaugh had to serve three-game suspensions to start the regular season from Michigan and three more games to finish it from the Big Ten.

So innocent that the mastermind of a complex sign-stealing plan that blatantly violated NCAA regulations, Connor Stalions, was fired shortly after it was made public.

So innocent that Stalions were followed out the door by Chris Partridge, the Wolverines’ linebackers coach, who, at least in part, disregarded an instruction not to discuss the probe with anyone in the program.

So naive that Harbaugh will most likely head to the NFL from Michigan, if only partially due to the ongoing investigations and punishments he will face upon his return.

Harbaugh is likely leaving Michigan for the NFL because he is so innocent, if only partly because of the ongoing investigations and consequences he will face if he returns.

These details are a part of the tale of this team’s push for a title, whether or not you care about them, which I know Michigan fans don’t. They occurred, they spread skepticism across college football, and ultimately, they were completely pointless. Following the discovery of the Stalions’ plot, Michigan defeated Penn State, Ohio State, Iowa, Alabama, and Washington, the five most formidable opponents on the schedule.

They succeeded, but they never ought to have needed to demonstrate anything more than their initial victory in the games. It doesn’t change the reality that Michigan didn’t have to cheat to win. It was all so pointless and foolish, yet it will always be a part of this season’s history. It shouldn’t have taken this long for a country to embrace this squad because of Michigan.

They did, but their only proof should have been that they could win the games in the first place. What transpired is still there even though Michigan didn’t have to cheat to win. This season’s history will always include it, even though it was all so pointless and ridiculous. A country should not have to work so hard to feel positive about this squad because of Michigan.

Defensive end Braiden McGregor stated, “I care about what my family, which is this team, my actual family, what they say.” “In the end, we are here because of them.” It has nothing to do with outsiders. It made no difference. We demonstrated it to ourselves by going outside.”

After going through phases of mediocrity under Rich Rodriguez and Brady Hoke, Michigan was in a precarious situation, and Ohio State was about to become a major force under Urban Meyer. Coming home wasn’t something his mother was all that sure about. But when Jim was ten years old, Jack, who had taken over as defensive backs coach for Bo Schembechler, picked up the phone and tried to break his son’s heart.

“Jim, you ran around the stadium and played here,” he remarked. Bo went after you and gave you a hard time for tiny things you did. You must return and attempt to restore Michigan to its proper standing in collegiate football.

It was a promise unfulfilled for six years. Michigan’s record in 2020—the dreadful COVID year—was 2-4. The Harbaugh experiment appeared to be a flop. It was rumored that he will be let go. Then, in 2021, Michigan overcame Ohio State and started an ascent to the summit that they will cherish for many years.

Whatever transpires next, Harbaugh produced that. We will be grateful if he returns to the NFL; no complaints. He will be remembered as more than just a Michigan Man when he is buried; in fact, he may be the most significant individual in the program’s history.

As innocent as that Monday night hug with his folks, it ought to have been the tale. Instead, the ring will come with a reality check and a reckoning.

Was the program’s full-blown scandal this fall worth the small recruiting infractions that first caught the NCAA’s attention? Of course.

However, the argument about everything else will never end, especially in a season when Michigan proved everything on the field.

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