Michigan overcomes a season of scandal to beat Washington 34-13 and win the CFP National Championship game… as Jim Harbaugh celebrates with his family after winning his alma mater its first title since 1997

In a season in which the Wolverines have been questioned for their sportsmanship, their ability to follow the rules and for their alleged use of spying on opponents, they have risen to the top of the college football world.

The University of Michigan has won the national championship for the twelfth time in school history – the first since 1997 and only the second since the modern era of the AP Poll in 1960.

Michigan was able to stun their opponents – the University of Washington – early in the game with a coordinated ground attack that they used effectively to overwhelm the Huskies and go on to win 34-13.

It capped a season in which head coach Jim Harbaugh was suspended for a total of six games — three games for a recruiting violation and then another three for allegedly being at the center of a coordinated sign-stealing scandal involving coaches recording opposing teams' signals. There are enough scandals to make college football fans wonder how long it will be before the NCAA penalizes the Wolverines of this national title.

But tonight there is little doubt that the Wolverines are the best team in football and are finishing their season undefeated. The only question that remains is whether Harbaugh's men did this under less than kosher means.

Blake Corum (2) rushed for 134 yards on 21 carries for two touchdowns on the night

Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr (9) struggled all evening

Michigan racked up an alarming offensive margin of 443 yards, 303 of which came on the ground.

Compare that to Washington, which only rushed for a paltry 46 when star running back Dillon Johnson was dealing with an injury suffered on New Year's Day in the Sugar Bowl.

But the most shocking performance came from the Huskies' vaunted passing game, especially their star quarterback and Heisman Trophy runner-up, Michael Penix Jr.

Penix routinely overthrew or missed his targets. Some of the few momentum-swinging completions were called back due to penalties. He made just one completion of more than 20 yards all night — a far cry from his normal performance — as he completed just 27 of 51 passes for 255 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. He probably should have thrown more.

But just as guilty was the receiving corps itself. Rome Odunze, a top-3 receiver in the upcoming NFL Draft class, missed a catch that surely would have meant a Huskies touchdown. He finished the night with five catches for 87 yards.

Jalen McMillan was the only receiver to catch a touchdown all night. He finished with six catches for just 33 yards.

While Washington's offense deserves criticism, the team's defense was just as responsible for letting the Wolverines run all over them, dooming their chances.

Blake Corum was the main executioner of this team. 21 rushes for 134 yards and two touchdowns repeatedly beat Washington's front seven to a pulp.

Penix completed barely half of his passes on a night where the passer and catcher let each other down

Donovan Edwards broke off two big runs on Michigan's first two drives to build a big lead

After Edwards' early dominance, Corum got going and played a phenomenal match

When he wasn't on the field, Donovan Edwards was more than capable of causing serious damage. On the opening drive, he broke off a 41-yard run for a touchdown.

On the next offensive drive, he opened up the Huskies again for a 46-yard rush to the house to put the Wolverines up 14-3.

While Washington was able to respond – with Penix finding McMillan for a touchdown before halftime to make it 14-10 – they repeatedly went their own way.

The first play of the second half was a Penix interception. That led to a Michigan field goal, with Washington responding in kind to make it 20-13.

Six punts followed before Michigan quarterback JJ McCarthy found Colston Loveland for 41 yards on his longest pass of the night. Four plays later, Corum rushed for a TD to make it 27-13.

The game essentially ended when Penix threw his second interception of the night just 30 yards from the end zone. He raised a prayer on 4th-and-13, which was picked up and returned 81 yards to the Michigan 8-yard line by Mike Sainristil.

JJ McCarthy finished the night with just ten passes, but for 140 passing yards

Michigan fans will go to bed happy tonight, but after a scandal-filled season, questions will arise as to whether they will remain champions or if the NCAA will strip them of their title

It took just two plays for the run game to find the end zone again. The rest of the evening was a formality.

There will be a lot of questions asked about this Michigan team and how it “deserves” a national title. In a vacuum, this game showed that they more than deserved it. But the NCAA never operates in a vacuum.

So while Michigan may go to bed tonight as “The Victors,” there may come a day — not tomorrow, but possibly someday — when they wake up to a colder reality than the one they live in now.