Not long after Michigan hoisted the national championship trophy, the program was subject to some criticism from analysts and observers around college football who thought that the Wolverines’ title deserved an “asterisk,” implying that the achievement wasn’t entirely legitimate given the ongoing sign-stealing investigations.
But absent in that chorus was the most powerful individual in college football. In cooperation with the Big Ten, NCAA President Charlie Baker provided the conference with the results of its inquiry. The conference used these findings to punish head coach Jim Harbaugh for three games at the conclusion of the season.
Baker stated that Michigan’s national title was comparable because of the probe and the Big Ten’s subsequent steps.
Baker reportedly stated, “At the end of the day, no one believes at this point that Michigan didn’t win the national
title fair and square,” as published by The Athletic.
At the NCAA’s annual convention in Phoenix, Arizona, Baker told reporters, “I don’t regret doing it because sitting on that information, given the comprehensiveness of it — I think we would have put everyone, including Michigan, in an awful place.” “As it was, it was out in the public domain and people either made adjustments or didn’t.”
The NCAA has not yet issued a ruling or made a final conclusion, despite the Big Ten having already responded to the accusations of sign-stealing. Michigan’s coach is unwavering no matter what transpires there.
“The off-the-field issues, we’re innocent,” he stated.
