After two wild semi-final playoff games, the #1-ranked University of Michigan Wolverines and the #2-ranked University of Washington Huskies faced off in the 10th annual College Football Playoff (CFP) finals. Both teams were coming off amazing, undefeated seasons and big semi-final bowl game wins over top teams. Michigan had beaten the University of Alabama Crimson Tide in an epic 27-20 overtime thriller. Washington had beaten the University of Texas Longhorns by a score of 37-31 in a game that came down to the final play.
The weeks and months leading up to this big game were not easy for either team. Both teams fought through significant adversity to land a spot in the CFP finals. Washington started off its season with four easy blowout wins against Boise State, Tulsa, Michigan State, and California. The following weeks saw Washington pull out last-second victories, including in the PAC 12 Championship game, winning by an average of just 5.8 points in the ten games leading up to the National Championship game.
Michigan, on the other hand, effortlessly won almost all its games, even getting its third win in a row against archrival Ohio State and shutting out Iowa in the BIG 10 Championship game. Prior to the start of the college football season, however, Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh was suspended for the first three games of the season for buying a recruit a hamburger during the down period in recruiting (a Level-I NCAA violation). Even without its head coach, Michigan was able to dominate those first three games.
Nearing the end of the season, right before Michigan squared off with #10-ranked Penn State, a report came out that a staffer who was interning for the Michigan football team was allegedly stealing other teams’ signs and plays. While Harbaugh and the rest of the staff had no idea that this was going on and immediately fired the intern, the NCAA still decided to suspend Harbaugh for the final three games of the regular season against Michigan’s biggest opponents. Michigan offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Sherrone Moore filled in as the interim head coach while Harbaugh was suspended, and the Wolverines were able to win all three games. In retrospect, Harbaugh and members of the team commented that what they viewed as unfair treatment by the NCAA did not hurt the team but instead gave them an advantage by binding them together and leading the team to adopt the slogan “Michigan vs. Everyone.”
The CFP finals matchup between Michigan and Washington was filled with future NFL stars. Washington came in with Heisman trophy finalist quarterback Michael Penix, Jr., one of the best offensive lines in college football, and star wide receivers Rome Odunze and Ja’lynn Polk. Michigan came in with BIG 10 quarterback of the year J.J. McCarthy, the top running back in college football, Blake Corum, and the best defense in all of college football.
The game started with Washington winning the coin toss and electing to kick off to Michigan first. Michigan started off strong, marching down the field quickly. On second and 14 from the Washington 41-yard line, Michigan backup running back Donovan Edwards made a nice cut and broke loose for a 41-yard touchdown run. Then it was Washington’s turn to answer. Penix marched the Huskies downfield quickly, but the drive ultimately ended in Washington kicking a field goal, making the score 7-3. On the very next drive for Michigan, Edwards again broke loose for a 46-yard touchdown run, extending Michigan’s lead to 14-3. Washington punted on its next drive, giving the ball back to Michigan, which completed a drive that ended with a field goal to extend Michigan’s lead to 17-3.
Right before the end of the first half, however, Washington cut the lead to 17-10 when Penix threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Jalen McMillan.
On the very first play of the first drive in the second half, Penix threw a pass that was intercepted by Michigan defensive back Will Johnson. Michigan went on to kick a field goal, making the score 20-10. Washington answered with a field goal of its own on the next drive, making it a one-score game again. With the score at 20-13 for much of the second half, the game turned into a defensive battle, with both teams trading punts for their next few possessions. The offensive drought ended midway through the fourth quarter when Michigan quarterback McCarthy threw a beautiful 41-yard pass to tight end Colston Loveland, followed by a 12-yard pass to wide receiver Roman Wilson, and Michigan ended the drive with a classic Corum red zone rushing touchdown. With Michigan up by two touchdowns and only seven minutes left in the game, Washington needed to answer fast. Penix and Washington were rapidly moving down the field. As it had been doing all season, Michigan’s defense came up strong, shutting down Washington’s offense on three straight plays and forcing a must-convert fourth and 13. With the game on the line, Penix called for the snap and dropped back to throw. Michigan star defensive tackles Kenneth Grant and Mason Graham applied pressure, beating their blockers and charging right at Penix. Sensing the blitz, Penix threw the ball up to avoid a sack, hoping that one of his receivers would catch it. Michigan defensive back Mike Sanristil (who was recruited as a wide receiver but moved to defensive back to help the team during the prior season) made a great play to intercept the ball, likely sealing the victory for the Wolverines. Michigan would go on to finish off the Huskies, with Corum scoring one last rushing touchdown to cap off his legendary college career.
Michigan won the game 34-13 and celebrated its victory in style, with Coach Harbaugh putting on a team-bought pair of Cartier “Buff” sunglasses with the players. The MVPs of the game were Michigan running back Corum and defensive back Johnson. The Michigan Wolverines overcame a ton of adversity this season and were truly the best college football team. Michigan’s Zak Zinter, Blake Corum, Michael Barrett, Cornelius Johnson, and Mike Sanristil all had the opportunity to go to the NFL last year after their upset loss to TCU in the playoff semifinals; however, they decided to stay in school for one final year because they felt that they had unfinished business and wanted to win a championship with the Wolverines. As the late legendary Michigan Coach Bo Schembechler once said, “Those who stay will be champions.”
