Blake Corum Wows CFB Fans as Jim Harbaugh, Michigan Win National Title vs. Washington

It was Michigan vs. Everybody all season.

And Michigan won.

The Wolverines defeated the Washington Huskies 34-13 in Monday's College Football Playoff National Championship Game at NRG Stadium in Houston. They used a dominant rushing attack to seize control right away and then rode a stifling defense the rest of the way.

Blake Corum scored two touchdowns to break the game open in the fourth quarter as part of an incredible day that saw him run for 134 yards. He was far from the only running back to impress, as Donovan Edwards took full advantage of his six carries with 104 yards and two touchdowns.

The defense deserves credit for keeping Michael Penix Jr. in check, but the rushing attack drew plenty of praise from social media:

One of primary storylines coming into the game was whether Michigan's defense could slow down Penix, but it was the Wolverines' offense that set the tone in resounding fashion.

The Big Ten representative consistently bullied the Huskies up front and ran for a stunning 174 yards in the first quarter alone. Edwards broke free for a 41-yard touchdown run on Michigan's first drive and a 46-yard touchdown run on its second drive, and the game seemed to be trending toward a complete blowout.

It also didn't help Washington's case that running back Dillon Johnson was limited by injury and Penix missed a wide-open Rome Odunze on a fourth down play that could have been a touchdown.

Even when the Huskies temporarily turned things around with a touchdown to cut the deficit to seven shortly before halftime, it was just a matter of time before Michigan would enforce its will yet again.

Penix was terrible for much of the game and missed a number of critical throws. Will Johnson picked him off on the first possession of the second half, and Mike Sainristil put the finishing touches on the game with a late interception with the Wolverines protecting a 14-point lead.

Washington's defense deserves some credit for turning things around after its brutal start and keeping the Pac-12 representatives within temporary striking distance, but it was too big of an ask to keep Corum out of the end zone with Penix and the Huskies offense failing to rise the moment a single time.

Ultimately, this was a coronation for a Michigan season that featured plenty of drama off the field but nothing but wins on it.

There are still plenty of questions about head coach Jim Harbaugh's future with speculation about a potential jump to the NFL. There is also the ongoing investigation into the program's sign-stealing scandal that will almost assuredly lead to sanctions down the line after former staffer Connor Stalions resigned, former linebackers coach Chris Partridge was fired and Harbaugh was suspended.

Despite all the controversy, the Wolverines kept winning.

Maybe the title will eventually be vacated, but the players and the fans will always remember how they felt Monday night.