Would a Michigan national championship be illegitimate? Wolverines avoided Georgia

Michigan is one victory away from winning a national championship while under separate NCAA investigations into allegations of recruiting violations and impermissible sign-stealing.

Hardly the scandals of the century, but enough to cast the Wolverines into the black-hat role. They remain unfazed.

The investigations, though, have some wondering whether a Michigan national championship would be deemed illegitimate. Nonsense.

The way we see it, if Michigan beats No. 2 Washington on Monday, then the Wolverines are the champs. No need for an asterisk.

The College Football Playoff and the AP determine college football’s national champion, not the NCAA.

On today's episode, hosts Blake Toppmeyer and John Adams reject the idea of Michigan being an illegitimate champion.

They also unpack Alabama’s failed final play in its 27-20 loss to Michigan in the Rose Bowl and examine the Crimson Tide’s path forward.

If there’s any asterisk necessary on a potential Michigan national championship, it’s that the Wolverines didn’t have to face Georgia. We’re supposed to believe that Georgia, winners of 30 of its last 31 games, isn’t one of the nation’s four-best teams? 

Later in the episode, a look at the fork in the road facing LSU’s Brian Kelly, who must hire new coordinators and reload on offense, and Nico Mania takes shape at Tennessee.

Stay connected on Twitter with Blake (@btoppmeyer) and John (@JohnAdamsKNS) and stay up to date on SEC football news by subscribing to KnoxNews: knoxnews.com/subscribe.