Joel Klatt Defends Michigan Football National Championship Run

Michigan football had a dominant season in 2023, going undefeated with a national championship. It was not without controversy, though.

The program had multiple off-the-field distractions centered around the Connor Stalions sign-stealing scandal, which led to questions about their postseason eligibility.

While the NCAA investigation into the matter remains ongoing, Joel Klatt does not believe the title is tainted. Speaking on his self-titled podcast, the FOX college football analyst stated:

“First and foremost, the national championship in 2023 is not even close to tainted. Not even close,” said Klatt. “It’s not even close to an asterisk. Number one, when this operation was still plausibly happening, they were blowing people out and there was little to no advantage needed nor gained.”

Adding to his reasoning, Klatt said:

“Number two, once this operation was brought to the forefront and then it was eliminated, they got nothing but better. The first week that Stalions wasn’t on the field, they beat Michigan State 49-0. You think that they were stealing signs in the Penn State game? Ohio State? In the playoff against Alabama? So, no, this national championship is not tainted at all.”

“If anything, they were given a break that this all came out in the middle of the year. If this all came out after the year, there would be a huge cloud of suspicion, but there’s no suspicion because I know they did it without the third version of sign stealing in the second half of the year. That’s what we do know because it was eliminated.”

Klatt noted he is disappointed in the integrity of Connor Stalions and whoever knew about the operation. He compared it to coaches who are tampering with talent and other ways in which NCAA rules are broken.

"The national championship in 2023 is not even close to tainted.” @joelklatt debriefs the Connor Stalions sign stealing saga and how it wasn’t the reason Michigan was so successful ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/8WQah7doiY

— The Joel Klatt Show: A CFB Pod (@JoelKlattShow) August 28, 2024

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