NCAA boss makes decision on if Michigan's national title is legit

Michigan won the 2023 college football national championship, but the team is not without its critics amid the sign-stealing allegations

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 the most powerful person in college football was not among that chorus. NCAA president Charlie Baker collaborated with the Big Ten, giving the conference the findings of its investigation, which it then used to suspend head coach Jim Harbaugh for three games at the end of the season.

Because of that investigation and the actions of the Big Ten as a result, Baker said that Michigan's national championship was on the level.

"At the end of the day, no one believes at this point that Michigan didn't win the national title fair and square," Baker said, according to The Athletic.

"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," Baker told reporters at the NCAA's annual convention in Phoenix, Ariz. "As it was, it was out in the public domain and people either made adjustments or didn't."

While the Big Ten already acted on the sign-stealing claims, the NCAA is yet to make a final decision or announce a ruling. Whatever happens there, Michigan's coach remains steadfast.

"The off-the-field issues, we're innocent," he said.

---

More college football from SI: Top 25 Rankings | Schedule | Teams

Follow College Football HQ: Bookmark | Rankings | Picks