Is Michigan football the villain of college football?

The Michigan football sign-stealing scandal, as well as the FBI’s interest in the Matt Weiss case, has Jim Harbaugh and his Wolverines in the national spotlight like never before. From national media to social media and more, the Maize and Blue cannot seem to catch a break right now; in fact, on Sunday, the New York Post went as far as to label Michigan the “villain” of college football — but are they correct?

Is Michigan football the villain of college football? That’s the perception, and the Wolverines must embrace it

Talk to anyone in the country right now, and there is a good chance that they have seen the headlines surrounding Michigan football, Jim Harbaugh, Connor Stalions, and the team’s alleged sign-stealing scandal. Additionally, earlier this week, it was reported that ex-offensive coordinator Matt Weiss is being looked into by the FBI for his computer access crimes, which got him fired from Jim Harbaugh’s staff earlier this year.

Since the start of the 2021 season, right off the heels of a 2-4 season, Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan football program are 33-3 overall with two Big Ten titles and College Football Playoff appearances. On top of that, Michigan is 8-0 so far this fall and ranked No. 2 in the coaches and AP polls, with the new CFP poll about to be released this week, which will also likely pin Michigan at the top of the sport.

That said, the background noise surrounding Michigan football has become impossible for fans to ignore — rival fans, the national media, and more have caught wind of the sign-stealing scandal and other investigations, and are running as far as they can with it. All it takes is a quick scroll through a comment section, or your Twitter feed, to see where the public stands on the Maize and Blue right now.

This afternoon, the New York Post took things one step further, labeling Michigan as the “villain” of college football. At first glance, that headline and conclusion had a lot of Michigan fans upset; however, it’s not all wrong, and that is simply the reality that the Wolverines and their fan base must embrace right now.

If Michigan football goes 15-0 and wins the national title this year, downing Ohio State, Penn State, and others along the way, all outsiders will simply label Michigan as “cheaters” and dismiss the Wolverines’ success. On the other hand, if Jim Harbaugh & Co. are to drop a game at any point this year, the narrative will be that the Wolverines needed Connor Stalions and his sign-stealing to win games.

The simple reality for Michigan football is that, due to the reports that have come out so far and social media’s reaction, this is going to be the new norm for the Wolverines. Even if the NCAA does not do much about the Connor Stalions situation, or if new evidence comes out in the Wolverines’ favor, people will be calling Michigan “cheaters” and worse for quite some time to come.

In response, Michigan football and the program’s loyal fan base have two choices: embrace it or let it drag them down.

With four games remaining on the 2023 regular-season slate — two home and two away — the Wolverines are entering the final stretch of a potential Big Ten title and College Football Playoff run for the third season in a row. Michigan is slated to face both Penn State and Ohio State within the next month, and with narratives running wild, all that Michigan has is its own.

So, whether or not you think that Jim Harbaugh and his Wolverines are the villains in all of this, that is how the team is being perceived, and at this point, the entire program and its fans may as well embrace the narrative as Michigan chases its first national title since 1997.

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