National champions! Michigan stuffs Washington, wins first title since 1997

HOUSTON — Mission accomplished.

After a rollercoaster season that saw NCAA probes, its coach suspended twice and plenty of critics, Michigan made sure its final act was most impressive.

On Monday, the No. 1-ranked Wolverines slowed the nation’s most prolific passing offense, beating Washington 34-13 to win their first national championship since 1997.

Running back Blake Corum, whose “national title or bust” mantra became a rallying cry for this team, scored the game-sealing touchdown with 7:09 to play. He led all carriers with 134 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

Backup Donovan Edwards had his best game of the season, rushing for 104 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback J.J. McCarthy combined for 171 yards of total offense.

But the real story came on defense, where Michigan slowed Hesiman Trophy runner-up quarterback Michael Penix and Washington’s No. 1-ranked passing attack. Penix finished 27 of 51 for 255 yards, completing just one pass for more than 15 yards, while the Huskies were limited to 301 yards of total offense. Its 13 points was UW’s lowest output of the season.

Wide receiver Rome Odunze, one of the nation’s best receivers, had five catches for 87 yards. No one else eclipsed the 50-yard mark.

Michigan looked to pull away early, jumping out to a 14-3 lead in the first quarter on a pair of Edwards carries. His first run went for 41 yards, a season long, and the second went for 46. The Wolverines tacked on a 31-yard field goal in the second quarter, pushing their lead to 17-3, but surrendered their lone touchdown on an 11-play, 61-yard drive.

Otherwise, Penix was flustered most of the night. His first pass attempt of the third quarter was intercepted by Will Johnson, UW had its second drive of the half derailed by three straight incomplete passes, and a must-have drive in the fourth ended thanks to a Mike Sainristil interception.

The Wolverines entered Monday night’s game with the No. 1 -ranked defense, both in points and yards allowed, and finished as such. In a battle of elite offense versus elite defense, it was Michigan and its bend-don’t-break defense full of disguises, varied looks and changing personnel that won out.

The victory was extraordinary given the way the season played out. Michigan, the preseason favorites to win the Big Ten, won six regular-season games without Jim Harbaugh on the sideline — suspended twice, for three games each, amid ongoing NCAA investigations for various rules violations.

In mid-November, the program became subject of a sign-stealing ring that engulfed college football and the sports world. A low-level staffer, Connor Stalions, was accused of going to unprecedented means to obtain footage of opponents’ sidelines in an effort to decode signs. Stalions would resign, and the Big Ten accused Michigan for violating the league’s sportsmanship policy, yet the Wolverines kept winning.

A 49-0 win over in-state rival Michigan State turned into a win over arch-rival Ohio State. Then came a third straight Big Ten championship.