The Michigan Wolverines football team won its first national championship since 1997 with a 34-13 win over the Washington Huskies in Houston on Monday night.
The Wolverines took early control of the game and used a complete team effort in the fourth quarter to break open a seven-point game and cruise to a 21-point win.
“Glorious win, I could not be prouder or happier of our team, 15-0,” Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh told the media postgame. “Took on all comers. Last one standing. It’s a great feeling.”
Michigan dominated Washington with its run game early, gaining over 200 yards in the first half, and had three runs over 40 yards in the first quarter.
Running back Donovan Edwards took his first two carries for touchdowns — the first for 41 yards and the second for 46 yards — as the Wolverines jumped out to a 14-3 lead while preventing Washington’s offense from getting the long passing plays that it has done such a great job with all season.
The Washington defense buckled down in the second quarter, holding Michigan to a field goal and getting a couple of fourth-down stops.
Despite failing to convert on a fourth down as quarterback Michael Penix Jr. missed a wide-open Rome Odunze, Washington was still within striking distance as the half drew to a close. The defense forced an incompletion after Michigan decided to go for it on 4th-and-3, and Penix helped pull the Huskies within seven with a three-yard touchdown pass to Jalen McMillan to make it a 17-10 game.
Penix threw an interception on the first play of the second half, but the Huskies’ defense rose to the occasion yet again, forcing another field goal to stay within 10 points. The offense then responded with another field goal drive to climb back within seven at 20-13.
While it had several opportunities to pull even, the Huskies’ offense struggled to convert and could not come up with the explosive plays that had made it so successful all season as Penix made some uncharacteristically inaccurate throws.
“We knew we had to execute. We didn’t execute the moment whenever we needed to,” Penix explained after the game. “… I don’t feel like we were confused or anything like that. I just feel like it came down to executing. I missed a couple of throws. Just a couple of reads on routes and stuff like that. Just small details within our system that we do great all the time.”
A long completion to Michigan tight end Colston Loveland tilted momentum back toward Michigan, and Blake Corum’s one-yard touchdown run made it a 27-13 game.
As Washington tried to respond, defensive back Mike Sainristil came up with a big interception, and Corum scored another touchdown to seal the deal.
Corum and Edwards both ran for over 100 yards with two touchdowns each. Penix finished with 255 passing yards, a touchdown pass, and two interceptions.
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WHAT TO KNOW
— No.1 Michigan defatted No.2 Washington 34-13 in the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship Game in Houston on Monday night.
— Michigan’s defense caused trouble for Washington’s potent offense, which scored its lowest point total of the season.
— Washington climbed back within a touchdown multiple times, but Michigan pulled away with two late touchdowns.
— Both teams entered the game 14-0, and Michigan finished 15-0 to win its first national championship since sharing the title with Nebraska in 1997.
— Michigan won its last three matchups with Washington.
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BY THE NUMBERS
— Michigan’s rushing attack outgained Washington’s 303-46 (174-31 in the first quarter).
— The loss was Washington’s first to a top 25 team in its last 11 matchups against ranked opponents.
— Third-down conversions were a struggle. Michigan was 2/14, and Washington was 1/10.
— Washington’s offense entered the game ranked eighth in the country in explosive plays (plays that gain 20 yards or more) but had zero on Monday.
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WHO SAID
— Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy on the team’s journey to a championship after two playoff losses: “I’d say we came a long way, but in order to accomplish things like this, you’ve got to go to those dark places where everything’s not great.”
— Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer on his program after two years at the helm: “I’m proud of what these guys have done this year and over the last two years. And we got a lot of great things happening within our program and a lot to build off of.”
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NEXT UP
— All college football teams enter the offseason.
