to me that it seems like Connor Stalions did this special to clear his name (or maybe just make money).

Then one of the last things he says is, "I don't always cheat [internal monologue - wait that maybe shouldn't have been out loud] I would say I don't cheat." Sure you would say that. And maybe you aren't cheating when you're sleeping, but when you say, I don't always cheat, that means you often cheat, and you know you cheated.

Can't think of a better team to go 5-4 the year after winning a national championship.