The Michigan Wolverines outpace the Washington Huskies, securing victory in the College Football Playoff title game with a commanding score of 34-13.
The Michigan Wolverines secured the top spot in college football by employing a dominant rushing strategy, defeating the Washington Huskies 34-13 in the College Football Playoff National Championship at Houston’s NRG Stadium on Monday night.
This victory marks Michigan’s first national title since 1997 and adds to their impressive record as the winningest program in college football history, claiming their 10th overall NCAA football crown. The Wolverines, with a perfect 15-0 record, achieved the milestone of being the first college football program to reach 1,000 all-time wins earlier in the season.
Michigan’s ground game proved formidable, rushing for a total of 303 yards and scoring four touchdowns, dealing Washington its first loss of the season. While the NCAA officially recognizes Michigan with 10 championships, the university claims 12, including titles from 1932 and 1947 that are not acknowledged by the NCAA.
Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh expressed his satisfaction with the outcome, stating, “It couldn’t have gone better. It went exactly how we wanted it to go, to win every game.”
In a clash between the nation’s last two undefeated teams, Michigan set the tone early with running back Donovan Edwards scoring two impressive touchdowns, contributing to a 14-3 lead in the first quarter. Edwards’ runs, covering 41 and 46 yards, rank as the second- and third-longest in CFP championship game history, trailing only Derrick Henry’s 50-yard score in 2016.
Washington faced challenges on offense but managed to narrow the gap with a touchdown pass from quarterback Michael Penix Jr. to Jalen McMillan just before halftime. However, Michigan’s defense tightened in the second half, exchanging field goals before securing a decisive victory with a Blake Corum 12-yard run and an 81-yard interception return by Mike Sainristil.
Corum concluded the game with 134 rushing yards and two touchdowns, while Edwards added 104 rushing yards and two touchdowns, solidifying Michigan’s ground dominance.
Michigan’s championship season, however, was not without off-field controversy. Head coach Harbaugh faced a three-game suspension for NCAA recruiting violations, and the team was under investigation for alleged sign-stealing, resulting in personnel changes.
Harbaugh, addressing the off-field challenges, affirmed the team’s innocence, saying, “The off the field issues, we’re innocent, and we stood strong and tall because we knew we were innocent.”
With speculation about Harbaugh’s future, he expressed a desire to savor the current success before discussing what lies ahead. Washington’s loss marked their final game in the Pac-12 Conference as they prepare to join the Big Ten next season.
Despite the defeat, Penix, a Heisman Trophy finalist, had an impressive season, setting records for passing yards. Reflecting on the loss, he emphasized unity in the locker room, stating, “We have been through a lot together, and we’re not going to point fingers or nothing like that. It’s a lot of love in the locker room.”
