Michigan won the battle vs. the NCAA. But did the Wolverines lose the war?
The maize and blue keep their national title. But they will likely face questions for a long, long time.
Let’s get this out of the way first: No one is going into this weekend happy.
Not Michigan, which is already planning to appeal sanctions that hit Friday, sanctions that will carry major financial and reputational implications; and certainly not everyone who wanted to see the NCAA hammer the Wolverines by taking away their 2023 national title.
Through every college sports scandal over the years, both big and small, that’s the one constant from the fallout: Dissatisfaction from everyone.
That’s usually how it goes when rules are broken. A scandal only happens when someone does something wrong, so naturally nothing great will come of it.
So what are we supposed to make of the Wolverines, who live to call themselves the winningest program of all-time, who can still claim 12 national titles, who remain owners of arguably the biggest brand in the entire sport?
Did they get away with all of the shenanigans they pulled off during a three-year run that culminated in a national title in 2023-24?
By the letter of the NCAA law, they absolutely did.
In the big-picture of college football, that’s up for debate, which may double as the biggest punishment of all.