Michigan beat Washington to win national championship, finish season 15-0

 

[January 09, 2024]  By Rory Carroll

(Reuters) -Michigan's rushing attack overpowered Washington as the Wolverines emerged with 34-13 victory on Monday to snap a 26-year national championship drought and cap an undefeated season.

Donovan Edwards ran for two long first-quarter touchdowns and Blake Corum punched it in twice in the fourth quarter for the favored Wolverines, who limited the Huskies' vaunted offense to a single touchdown.

"15-0," Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh said as blue and yellow confetti rained down on the field in Houston.

"Took on all comers and we're the last ones standing. Champions."

Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who had a clutch scramble to keep a drive alive in the fourth quarter, was all smiles after securing the victory.

"It's glorious, that's all I can say," McCarthy said.

"I just love my team mates so much, love my coaches. It's bittersweet because it's the last time we're going to get to play together.

"It's such a special group and no better way to end it."

It is Michigan's 12th national championship, and first since 1997 when the team split the title with Nebraska.

Washington's two titles came in 1991 and 1960.

Michigan jumped out to an early lead on a pair of touchdowns of more than 40 yards each by Edwards on its first two possessions and the team looked like they would run away with the game after charging out to a 17-3 first-quarter lead.

But the Huskies got new life when Harbaugh made the surprising decision to call a passing play on fourth down and three near midfield in the second quarter.

The pass was broken up and on the ensuing possession Washington quarterback Michael Penix delivered a strike to Jalen McMillian in the end zone to cut the deficit to 17-10 going into halftime.

Michigan quickly grabbed the momentum back when Penix was hit while throwing the ball on the first play of the second half and Will Johnson came down with the interception, setting up a field goal for 20-10.

Washington answered with a 45-yard field goal by Grady Gross to cut the deficit back to a touchdown but would not score again.

Corum ran it in from 12 yards for a 27-13 lead with just over seven minutes to go and the game effectively ended when Penix's desperation heave was picked off by Mike Sainristil, who returned the ball all the way to the Washington eight yard line.

Jan 8, 2024; Houston, TX, USA; The Michigan Wolverines celebrate after winning 2024 College Football Playoff national championship game against the Washington Huskies at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports/ File photo

Corum soon found the end zone again for a 34-13 lead and Washington was kept quiet from there as the Michigan pass rush repeatedly pounded Penix.

CONTROVERSY

Michigan beat rivals Ohio State to end the regular season and then shut out Iowa to claim the top seed in the playoffs.

The Wolverines then rallied to beat Alabama in overtime in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day to set up their meeting with second-seeded Washington in the championship game.

Michigan had to tune out controversy along the way after Harbaugh was suspended for the final three games of the regular season in November following an investigation into allegations of sign-stealing by Wolverines staffers.

Harbaugh denied knowledge of any of the alleged sign-stealing and accepted the suspension as part of an agreement that ended the investigation.

Attention will now turn to Harbaugh's future and whether the fiery coach, who led the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl in 2013, will stay with his alma mater or return to the NFL.

The title game marked the final edition of the four-team College Football Playoffs, which will be replaced by a 12-team playoff system next season.

It also marks the last time Washington will be part of the Pac-12 as the team is set to join Michigan in the Big Ten next season.

(Reporting by Rory Carroll in Los Angeles; Editing by Peter Rutherford)

[© 2023 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]
 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.  Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.