The University of Washington Huskies and University of Michigan Wolverines met in Houston, Tex., for the College Football National Championship on Monday, Jan. 8, 2024. Here are takeaways and highlights from the game.
After much anticipation, the big night finally came. Washington and Michigan faced off in a battle of the playoff’s top two seeds.
While Michigan was favored entering this contest, the overall consensus was that either team could win. Therefore, it’s no surprise that both schools put up a fight and the game wasn’t officially decided until the final quarter.
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Final Score: Michigan 34, Washington 13
Michigan set the tone early with a quick strike on their opening drive. After a series of short gains, Michigan took a 7-0 lead on a 41-yard rushing touchdown from Donovan Edwards. The score gave Michigan valuable points less than five minutes into the contest. Washington assembled a 14-play drive in hopes of answering with seven points of their own, but they had to settle for a field goal.
The Wolverines remained dominant for the remainder of the first quarter, adding 10 more points on another big touchdown run from Edwards (this time, from 46 yards out) and a field goal. Defensively, they stalled the Huskies on two separate drives, forcing a three-and-out and a turnover on downs.
After a Michigan field goal, both teams exchanged several failed drives in the second quarter. Finally, Washington started to chip away at their two-possession deficit, adding seven points on a Michael Penix Jr. touchdown pass to Jalen McMillan. Washington’s trip to the end zone pulled them within seven points at halftime.
Any momentum gained from their touchdown late in the first half disappeared when Penix threw an interception on the first play from scrimmage in the third quarter. It did appear that the 23-year-old signal-caller may not have been entirely to blame for the pick; he was spiked by a lineman at the time of his throw, and the pass was also deflected by a defender. Will Johnson made an acrobatic play to pick off Penix near the sideline. The throw was an ill-advised decision by the quarterback prospect and proved costly for Washington.
Michigan marched down the field and added three points on a field goal, going up by two possessions once again.
Washington added a field goal and seemed to gain momentum on its next drive before suddenly stalling near midfield. They punted back to the Wolverines, who mounted a formidable series but then launched a punt of their own near the end of the third quarter.
Early in the fourth quarter, the two sides exchanged punts, giving Washington the ball with 11:52 left, trailing by seven points. On second down, Penix threw up a prayer off his back foot with a defender in his face. Rome Odunze came down with the ball, but Washington’s big gain was negated by a penalty. This pushed them back into their own territory, and they punted two plays later.
Looking to seal their victory, Michigan remained aggressive with less than 10 minutes on the clock. J.J. McCarthy found Colston Loveland for a 41-yard gain, and the Wolverines entered the red zone two plays later. Then, Blake Corum shook several defenders en route to a 12-yard touchdown, Michigan’s third rushing score of the game.
Looking for a miracle, Washington got the ball back and moved downfield, aided by a 44-yard catch from Odunze. However, soon faced with a fourth-and-13 situation, Penix threw up a prayer and was intercepted. Mike Sainristil returned the ball all the way back to Washington’s eight-yard line, and Corum rushed for a touchdown two plays later.
Adding insult to injury, Penix appeared to suffer an upper-body ailment during the second half and was in visible pain for Washington’s final drive, which ended in a turnover on downs. The potential first-round pick finished with 255 passing yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions.
Winning the rushing attack was key for Michigan, who scored four touchdowns on the ground during the season’s final contest. The Wolverines dropped 303 rushing yards while Washington totaled just 46. Corum added 133 yards and Edwards delivered 104 yards. Both running backs logged two touchdowns.
Highlights
Early house call from Donovan Edwards!
📺 ESPN#GoBlue pic.twitter.com/efPMbscxBv
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) January 9, 2024
Explosive! 💥 pic.twitter.com/jqgoeRceS0
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) January 9, 2024
TOUCHDOWN @jalenmcmillan20 😤#PurpleReign #CFBPlayoff pic.twitter.com/GArbedwKA7
— Washington Football (@UW_Football) January 9, 2024
WHAT AN INTERCEPTION BY WILL JOHNSON TO START THE HALFpic.twitter.com/BtK1csszJ0
— Action Network (@ActionNetworkHQ) January 9, 2024
BLAKE CORUM! pic.twitter.com/VHBIhWzejN
— Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthew_CFB) January 9, 2024
Mikey Sainristil called game🗣️
— PFF College (@PFF_College) January 9, 2024
Looking Forward
While contending and rebuilding isn’t the same for NCAA programs as NFL teams, it’s fair to argue that Washington’s window for winning a championship has closed with Monday’s loss. The Huskies will say goodbye to several top prospects, including potential first-rounders Bralen Trice, Troy Fautanu, Odunze, and Penix.
Make sure to check out all of our NFL Draft scouting reports.
On the other side of the field, while Michigan does have NFL draft prospects of its own, the final outcome — a championship — is far more rewarding. Moving forward, all eyes are on head coach Jim Harbaugh, who seems bound to parlay his title into a big payday at the NFL level. Top landing spots include the Los Angeles Chargers and Las Vegas Raiders, though it’s possible that he simply decides to join the highest bidder.
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