2023 CFP National Championship: Michigan vs. Washington
This presented some variety, as it was the first final not to feature Alabama, Ohio State, Clemson, or Georgia in the history of the College Football Playoff. After downing Alabama in the semifinal, it just felt kismet for the Wolverines to win this one, and this was more of a coronation ceremony than anything else.
Washington, for all of their talent at receiver and QB, were unable to do much against the Michigan defense. The Wolverines, on the other hand, were unstoppable on the ground with Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards. JJ McCarthy did his part as well, piloting the Wolverines to their first title in quite some time.
Of course, this 34-13 result was also mired in intrigue after the Conner Stalions story that hung over Michigan’s season like a shadow. The mostly-toothless NCAA has investigated the Wolverines and given them a slap on the wrist, but Jim Harbaugh fled the coop before anything big came down.
Not that it really mattered, of course, as the Wolverines got the title they dreamt of— and the NCAA couldn’t take that away. Well, I guess they could have vacated it, but they didn’t.