Michigan football’s convincing national championship run raises new questions about cheating scandal — Jimmy Watkins

Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh celebrates the win at the College Football Playoff championship game at NRG Stadium in Houston on Monday, Jan. 8, 2024. Michigan won their first national title since 1997, topping Washington, 34-13.Neil Blake | MLive.com

Cleveland, Ohio — Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. retreated toward the Huskies’ tunnel with a limp and a sore spot. He held his ribs and dragged his leg after three hours against Michigan’s defense, which held Penix to the worst stat line of his heralded final season.

The Heisman runner-up completed 52.9% of his passes for 255 yards (five per attempt), one touchdown and two interceptions on Monday night. The Wolverines’ defense hit him countless times. Amazing what Michigan can do with scalped tickets and a camcorder.

Former UM recruiting analyst Connor Stalions caused none of Penix’s bruises during UM’s 34-13 win over Washington in Houston, which completed an undefeated season and clinched the Michigan’s first consensus national title in 75 years. Stalions’ stolen signals opened zero holes for Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards, who combined for 303 bruising yards and four touchdowns. But even after UM’s convincing title game victory, Stalions’ transgressions hovered over the celebration.

At some point, the Wolverines must have thought as much. Michigan wants the NCAA to believe that Stalions acted alone in his sign-stealing operation, but somebody with more money had to fund the low-level staffer’s travels and ticket purchases for opponents’ games. And somebody with more juice had to clue in Michigan’s coordinators, who’ve been seen on video talking with Stalions just moments before calling plays over the last few seasons. Whoever this somebody(s) is, they did not foresee the potential Michigan fulfilled over the last three months.