After three years of tumultuous finishes, the Michigan Wolverines football team “bet” on themselves this season, and wisely so.

The national champion Wolverines returned home Tuesday night to thunderous applause and screaming fans following their 34-13 victory over the Washington Huskies on Monday night, as reported by The Associated Press.

“Thank you so much for being here,” coach Jim Harbaugh said. “We had lofty aspirations and high goals, and we never lost sight of them.”

Defensive tackle Kris Jenkins also thanked the crowd.

“You don’t know how much we appreciate you all, from the bottom of our hearts, all the love and support,” Jenkins said. “When the whole world doubted us, when the whole world didn’t think we could do it, what did we say? Boom!”

Quarterback J.J. McCarthy was greeted with chants of “One more year!” asking the junior to return to help defend the national title next fall.

“Let me just say this: I don’t know how I could leave you all,” McCarthy said. “It says everything about this place that’s made it home for me. And I just love every single one of you from the bottom of my heart.”

Michigan was voted a unanimous No. 1 in the final Associated Press college football poll of the season after the Wolverines beat Washington to win their first national title in 26 years. The Wolverines received all 61 first-place votes.

All of the disappointing postseason outings led this Wolverines team to this moment. It’s truly a great day to be a Wolverine, and this team should be forever proud of this accomplishment — the fans surely will be.

“(The season) went exactly how we wanted it to go,” Harbaugh told the AP. “It went exactly how we wanted it to go. (These players) will forever be known as national champions.”

The university is planning a formal celebration on Saturday in Ann Arbor. We would like to extend a congratulations to the team on its undefeated championship run. What you have achieved together is beyond remarkable.