Jim Harbaugh wins a national championship. With two touchdowns from Corum, Michigan defeats Washington 34–13.
Monday night in the College Football Playoff, No. 2 Washington was defeated 34-13 by Blake Corum, who ran for 134 yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Harbaugh and the top-ranked Wolverines, unfazed by suspensions and a case of sign-stealing that followed the program, completed a three-year surge to a national title.
With 3:37 remaining, Corum who had earlier scored the game-winning touchdown in overtime against Alabama in the Rose Bowl semifinal blasted in from the 1-yard line to give Michigan a 21-point lead and ignited yet another thunderous roar of “The Victors,” securing the Wolverines’ (15-0) first national championship since 1997.
Despite missing six regular-season games this season due to separate sanctions, Harbaugh delivered the championship so many had anticipated when he took over a failing powerhouse in 2015, after nine seasons as his alma mater’s coach and in his third consecutive postseason trip.
And he accomplished it with a team that Bo Schembechler, his former coach, would have been proud of. In their 14-1 victory over Washington, the Wolverines amassed 303 yards of ground gain, while their defense, which twice intercepted the Heisman Trophy runner-up, limited Michael Penix Jr. and the Huskies’ explosive passing attack to just one score.
“This team consists of over 100 men from Michigan,” Harbaugh remarked. The work they’ve done is incredible. They’ll always be regarded as national champs.
Penix finished his incredible six-year collegiate career with what may have been his poorest game of the year. Penix was not nearly as accurate against a Michigan defense that negated his hallmark deep throws. Penix is usually undaunted by pressure. The transfer from Indiana, who had to recover from two knee operations and two shoulder issues, was roughed up by the Wolverines and occasionally hobbled.
“Better than I was three years ago,” Penix said when asked how he was feeling. Penix completed 27 of 51 passes for 255 yards and a score, ending the Huskies’ 21-game winning run.Coach Kalen DeBoer said of the group of players, who went 4-8 just two seasons ago and 25-3 since he took over in 2022, “they’ve given me everything they possibly can.”
J.J. McCarthy of Michigan had a quiet game, passing for 140 yards and gaining 31. However, it was sufficient to raise his record to 27-1 when starting for the Wolverines.The Huskies were prepared for a while after Michigan gave them a taste of life in the Big Ten, where the Pac-12 champs will play next season.
The Wolverines led 17-3 early in the second quarter because to two lengthy touchdown runs by Donovan Edwards and 229 yards of running in the first quarter, which brought back thoughts of the historic Georgia rout of TCU last year.
In the first half, Washington steadied and didn’t let the Wolverines score another point. With 4:46 remaining in the second quarter, the Huskies stopped Michigan on a fourth-and-2 from the UW 38, and Penix got to work.
With 42 seconds remaining, he connected with Jalen McMillan for a 3-yard score on a fourth-and-goal. The Huskies were behind 17–10 at the half, yet the supporters joyfully sang along to “Who Let the Dogs Out” as they were about to be crushed by the Wolverines.
After Will Johnson intercepted Penix on the opening play of the second half, Michigan had another chance to take a two-touchdown lead, but James Turner’s field goal was forced by the Huskies to make the score 20–10.
Up until halfway through the fourth quarter, Michigan maintained a touchdown lead. However, the Wolverines eventually gained some breathing room with a 27-13 lead with 7:09 remaining after a 71-yard drive that was completed by Corum’s tackle-breaking 12-yard score.
With a knee injury from the previous season, Corum the team’s heart and soul and the driving force behind its ground-and-pound offense missed the CFP. In the last four-team College Football Playoff before it grows to twelve teams the following year, he was named offensive player of the national championship game.
“This one’s for you, Michigan,” Corum yelled to the Wolverines supporters.
When it was announced in October that the NCAA was looking into the program for possibly breaking rules that forbid in-person opponent scouting and using video equipment to try to decode opponents’ play signals, Michigan appeared to be headed for a third straight Big Ten championship and postseason trip.
The controversy threatened to ruin the Wolverines’ season and made Connor Stalions, a low-level Michigan recruitment worker accused of masterminding the plot, a household figure. The NCAA procedure is expected to last well into 2024, and Michigan may be subject to fines that are yet to be determined. Nevertheless, the Big Ten chose to move faster, punishing Michigan by benching Harbaugh for the remaining three regular season games, which included games against rival Ohio State and Penn State.
After declaring initially that it would challenge the fines in court, Michigan eventually gave up and accepted the penalty a few days later. The Wolverines refused to give up. It was Michigan against. Everyone once offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore replaced Jim Harbaugh. Nobody could stop the Wolverines.
After completing the mission and returning for the postseason, Harbaugh was able to celebrate with his father, Jack, a former college football coach, as he collected the trophy.
“Who is enjoying it more than us?” At the award presentation, Jack Harbaugh questioned the spectators. Their raucous response was, “Nobody!”
Given that the NFL appears to be tempting the former 49ers coach once again, the issue now is whether Harbaugh has coached his alma mater for the final time.