Michigan did not lack for star power in the CFP National Championship, including game-changing performances from MVPs Blake Corum and Will Johnson. However, anyone watching the title game in Houston was undoubtedly left with one major conclusion.

Michigan’s title-winning formula still starts with being the bullies up front.

The headlines belong to Corum and Donovan Edwards. Corum, the program legend, delivered 134 yards and 2 touchdowns to lead the way while Edwards sparked the hot start with a pair of huge touchdown runs.

In total, the Wolverines delivered 303 rushing yards, a record for a BCS or CFP National Championship Game. Even more remarkable, Michigan averaged 8 yards per carry while terrorizing Washington’s defense.

How did they do it? It’s no secret the Wolverines did not win the Joe Moore Award this season (and they weren’t even a finalist), an honor that went to Washington’s offensive line. However, head coach Jim Harbaugh has been bullish on the unit from the jump.

And even while the Wolverines returned some key pieces to the line entering 2023, Sherrone Moore was not content to stand pat. Michigan went out and grabbed LaDarius Henderson, Drake Nugent and Myles Hinton in the portal to join a group that already consisted of Zak Zinter, Trevor Keegan and others.

Zinter was unfortunately not on the field for Monday’s game, but Michigan’s offensive line still set the tone early — and often — up front:

In reality, the only thing that slowed down Michigan’s offense was itself during the second and third quarters. After a strong opening period in Houston, some questionable playcalling led to just 2 field goals before heading to the fourth quarter.

Fortunately, Michigan finally found its balance in the fourth quarter with Corum punctuating the offensive performance with a pair of touchdowns. A fitting end to his career in Ann Arbor.

On the defensive side of the ball, the story was very much the same for the Wolverines. Interceptions by Will Johnson and Mike Sainristil are likely to steal the highlights, but the name of the game was getting pressure on Penix and shutting down the rushing attack.

What is remarkable is that Michigan finished the game with just 1 sack of Penix. That came from Kenneth Grant early in the game. But, while the Wolverines did not get Penix to the ground much, he was moved off the spot all night long.

A lot of that work came from the interior of Michigan’s line with Kris Jenkins, Grant and Mason Graham consistently shedding blocks and moving the pocket:

By the time a beaten, bruised and battered Penix walked off the field, he had completed just 53% of his passes in the loss with 2 interceptions. It was the second-lowest completion percentage for Penix’s remarkable season and just his second game this season with 2 interceptions.

And of course, Michigan’s defense was not just a pass-rushing specialty. The Wolverines clogged up the run game, limiting the Huskies to 46 rushing yards and 2.3 yards per carry in Houston.

It just goes to show that dominance in the trenches is still an ultra-crucial aspect of college football, and the Wolverines captured the title as the deepest team at the line of scrimmage in the country.

As for the future, everyone wants to know what’s next for Jim Harbaugh. That’s understandable with the head coach finally delivering a title and completing the turnaround in Ann Arbor. But maybe (and more than likely) Michigan will be just fine either way, provided the Wolverines stay true to the formula that got them this far.