Jim Harbaugh's focus remains far from vacated wins

Jim Harbaugh's Michigan Wolverines are on a roll. So much so that the whole Connor Stalions "sign-stealing" scandal seems like an afterthought.

That's what happens when you win 14 in a row — including wins over No. 10 Penn State, No. 2 Ohio State and No. 4 Alabama in the College Football Playoff  — and find yourself in the College Football Playoff National Championship.

Still, the idea of NCAA sanctions or penalties  — including vacated wins  — is very much a reality for Michigan depending on the conclusions from an NCAA investigation into the matter. 

Speaking on a conference call with reporters, Harbaugh made it clear that he has no room in his mind to talk about vacated wins right now, though. He's trying to win Michigan's first National Championship since 1997. Whether or not a potential title win is vacated in the future isn't on Harbaugh's radar.

“As I said, getting ready for this game. One-track mind,” Harbaugh said when asked what it would mean if the NCAA vacated Michigan's wins, per On3. “I mean that’s, I guess you want to live in the world of Rumorville or speculation. But we just don’t really have any room to be doing that at this point. That’s time spent elsewhere.”

Harbaugh's critics would say that Michigan will eventually have to pay the piper for its role in the widespread sign-stealing scheme and Harbaugh's three-game school-imposed suspension for the contests against Penn State, Maryland and Ohio State wasn't enough. 

His critics may also say that he's not worried about vacated wins because he essentially seems to be once again ready to test the waters of the NFL this offseason. If he goes to the NFL, any sanctions at Michigan won't be his problem anymore.

Of course, it's hard to deny Harbaugh the chance to focus on the biggest game of his career. One can understand why a reporter would ask him about sanctions, but it's also understandable that the only thing on his mind is Monday night's championship contest against the No. 2 Washington Huskies.