Monday night in Houston, Texas, during the College Football Playoff title game, No. 1 Michigan led by Blake Corum ran for 134 yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Undeterred by suspensions and a case of sign-stealing that followed the programme, the team completed a three-year climb to a national championship by defeating No. 2 Washington 34-13.

With 3:37 remaining and Michigan leading by 21, Corum—who earlier in the game had scored the game-winning touchdown in overtime to defeat Alabama in the Rose Bowl semifinal—blasted in from the 1-yard line to give the Wolverines (15-0) their first national championship since 1997. The play sparked another wild reenactment of “The Victors.”

Despite missing six regular-season games this season due to separate sanctions, Harbaugh delivered the championship that so many had anticipated when he took over a failing powerhouse in 2015, after nine seasons as his alma mater’s coach and his third consecutive postseason participation.

And he did it with a team that Bo Schembechler, his former coach, would have been proud of. Against Washington (14-1), the Wolverines ran for 303 yards, and their defence intercepted the Heisman Trophy runner-up twice while limiting Michael Penix Jr. and the Huskies’ spectacular passing attack to just one touchdown.

Penix finished his incredible six-year collegiate career with what may have been his poorest game of the year. Penix, who is normally undeterred by pressure, was not nearly as accurate against a Michigan defence that stifled his trademark deep throws.

Penix completed with 255 yards and a touchdown on 27 of 51 attempts.

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 while starting for the Wolverines.

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 fans of the Huskies joyfully cheered along to “Who Let the Dogs Out” as the team seemed like they were about to lose 17–10 at the half against the Wolverines.