5 things we learned from Michigan football's national championship win

Pinch yourselves, Michigan football fans, it's real. The Wolverines are national champions.

After years of suffering and heartbreak and coming oh so close, Jim Harbaugh and the 144th Michigan football team fulfilled their destiny on Monday night in Houston.

What made it even better was that the Wolverines did it with defense, and running the football. They also did things the right way. They didn't pay for players and they didn't cheat. All the players graduate and they are also the best college football team in the nation.

Here are five things we learned from the 34-13 Michigan football win over Washington.

Jim Harbaugh's way worked

If you look up man ball in the dictionary, there should be a picture of Jim Harbaugh. The former quarterback has always been about power football.

There was a time -- after the 2018 Ohio State loss -- that Harbaugh got away from what's always worked. The Wolverines tried "speed-in-space" before they finally got back to the power spread or whatever you want to call it.

Michigan beat Alabama because of a 17-yard touchdown run by Blake Corum. On Monday night, they ran for 303 yards. The Wolverines had three 40-plus runs in the first quarter. The offensive line dominated and Harbaugh understands how important it is to run the damn ball.

It was spectacular to watch the offensive line work and to see Harbaugh's brand of football win a national championship.

Man ball lives!