The Michigan Wolverines are the best team in the College football world, and that’s a fact; however, the road to the championship was not without trials and tribulations.
The Wolverines faced many ups and downs throughout the 2023-2024 season, including a scandal that sidelined Harbaugh for six games, a rouge coach, and head coaching uncertainties that remained in the media the whole year. The Wolverines remained focused and determined to finish the job despite the off-field distractions.
Michigan was defined by their dominant defense that allowed an astounding 11 points per game while they scored an average of 35 points per game. The defense was led by key edge rushers Kris Jenkins and Mason Graham and defensive back Mike Sanristil. On the other side of the ball, the Wolverines were led by Heisman candidates Blake Corum, JJ McCarthy, and superstar wide receiver Roman Wilson. The dynamic duo—Corum and McCarthy—shined in big moments for the Wolverines throughout the season with huge plays in the biggest stages. Examples of this include Blake Corum’s 17-yard touchdown run in overtime against Alabama to seal the Rose Bowl and secure a spot for the Wolverines in the National Championship, which they ended up winning.
The Wolverines’ journey to the championship was not without strife. They faced several tough opponents toward the end of the regular season, including 13th-ranked Penn State, 10th-ranked OSU, and 24th-ranked Iowa. However, Michigan’s win over Alabama in the National Semifinal Rose Bowl game was particularly impressive as the Wolverines overpowered the Crimson Tide in overtime to advance to the final.
Michigan also went through an extensive sign-stealing scandal that rocked Schembechler Hall during the middle of the season. Morales was questioned, coaches fired, and everything from the inside out was challenged. Former low-level staffer Conner Stallions was the centerpiece of it all, from supposed evidence brought to the table by none other than the team up north, to Central Michigan suddenly being thrown into the picture.
Despite the challenges, the Wolverines proved everyone wrong throughout the entirety of the season, going 15-0 and winning the National Championship. Haters were caught with the jaws lacking, while diehard Michigan fans were brought back to the promised land for the first time since 1997. They proved fair and square that they were the best team in the nation.
In the aftermath of the championship, many players and coaches from the Wolverines have declared for the next steps in their careers or lives, with 18 players declaring for the draft, including key players such as JJ McCarthy, Roman Wilson, Blake Corum, Trevor Keegan, Karsen Barnhart, Trente Jones, Kris Jenkins, and Mike Sainristil. Not only did players make decisions to move on, but so did a few coaches, including head coach Jim Harbaugh, DC Jesse Minter, and strength coach Ben Herbert.
It was not all without vain, with offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore being promoted to the head coaching job almost immediately after coach Harbaugh left. This will start a new era in the Michigan football program as the Wolverines will embark on the 2024-2025 season as the reigning champions of college football.
