Michigan won the College Football National Championship on Monday, beating Washington, 34–13.
The Maize and Blue dominated the game throughout, racking up 303 rushing yards – nearly half of which were gained by star running back Blake Corum. By comparison, Washington racked up only 301 yards of total offense – and Huskies quarterback Michael Penix, normally efficient, went 27 of 51 with 255 passing yards, one TD and two interceptions.
In short, the game was one-sided, much like last year’s championship contest, which saw Georgia pound TCU, 65-7. But given the success of the 2023 Michigan season, which has seen the most wins in program history, this offseason will almost certainly bring a change at head coach.
Of late, there are multiple teams in the NFL looking for a head coach like Jim Harbaugh. Sign-stealing scandals aside, his successful execution of the highest goal in college football makes him a viable candidate for any struggling pro team. The Washington Commanders, LA Chargers, and Las Vegas Raiders could all be options. Now that he has brought the Michigan program to 1,000 wins and earned a national title, he is almost certain to move on from his collegiate role.
But one thing that should be noted, at least after Monday’s game, is how exceptional Michigan has been at adapting old-school football to the modern landscape of the sport. With passing attacks preeminent in both college and the pros, teams rarely ever rush for over 300 yards in a game. Michigan did so on Monday.
And, in a way, this is part of the team’s allure – and it offers some hope that football is returning, at least in part, to its old brutality. In recent years, finesse and highlight-worthy throws have become more commonplace than ever before. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing; but as with any good thing, an excess thereof causes problems. As both college and pro football become increasingly pass-oriented, the run game gets lost in the shuffle.
Given that much of football’s allure lies in its viciousness, teams move away from running the ball at their peril. Michigan has achieved a great victory in reminding a national audience that old-school football can still work, and that new initiatives for player health and safety need not completely tranquilize an intimidating game.
Thus Michigan’s victory – and its rushing stats – are good for football at all levels. And given Harbaugh’s success, it will be interesting to see what next season entails for him, the Big Ten and the NFL.
