Michigan legend Jake Butt says 2023 national title ‘has an asterisk on it’

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It’s been three years since the sign-stealing scandal that emerged during Michigan’s 2023 national championship season. And while the Wolverines largely avoided any detrimental program-changing punishment after the NCAA’s investigation, they did take a hit to their public perception. That apparently even includes one high-profile alum.

Former Michigan tight end Jake Butt, a Mackey Award winner and two-time All-American who played for the Wolverines from 2013 to 2016, established himself as perhaps the greatest tight end in program history during his playing career. Now, he’s built a career as a broadcaster for Fox Sports and the Big Ten Network.

After some recent comments, it’s fair to say he won’t be labeled a homer anytime soon.

During an appearance on The Film Guy Network, Butt offered candid thoughts on the current state of the Michigan program and the validity of the 2023 championship, going so far as to claim the national title deserved an “asterisk.”

“Two decades for Jim [Harbaugh] to get them back-to-back-to-back-to-back Big Ten champs and a national title, but even that has an asterisk on it,” Butt said. “And then pretty much immediately Michigan is back to being a punching bag. And I think it’s very disappointing for people. It’s certainly disappointing for me as I talk about my alma mater here, because no way should a $50 million roster look like this on the field.”

The NCAA’s investigation determined that the Wolverines engaged in an impermissible sign-stealing scheme during the 2021, 2022, and 2023 seasons, but Michigan avoided having any past wins vacated or any future bowl bans.

Instead, Michigan’s punishment was largely levied against its coaches, with Sherrone Moore receiving a three-game suspension spread across the 2025 and 2026 seasons (though he was fired before the 2026 season), and Harbaugh receiving a 10-year show-cause order, restricting him from all athletically related activities during the show-cause period, which will begin on Aug. 7, 2028, at the conclusion of his four-year show-cause order from a previous case.

While largely escaping crippling punishment, Michigan is still struggling with just a 3-2 record that easily could have been 2-3. And a Michigan legend isn’t even buying the title that the scheme won during that span.