CFP National Championship: Washington vs. Michigan in the College Football Playoff
Many would say that this has been the best college football season for the Pac-12 in a very long time. Now, a conference member will get the chance to play for the National Championship in what will be the conference’s final season. In fact, the Washington Huskies will soon be a member of the Big Ten, so it seems only fitting that they get a head start by facing the Michigan Wolverines for college football’s ultimate prize on Monday January 8.
In the CFP semifinals, the Wolverines beat Alabama in overtime 27-20 and the Huskies outlasted Texas 37-31 with a last-second stand to set the stage for a matchup of contrasting styles. Washington’s last claimed national title came back in 1991. Michigan’s came in 1997. One of those droughts will end in Houston, Texas on Monday night.
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Washington and Michigan actually squared off back in 2021, but a lot of things have changed for both teams. More has changed for the Huskies, as second-year head coach Kalen DeBoer and Heisman Trophy finalist Michael Penix Jr. injected new life into the offense just one season after that meeting. The Huskies and their aerial assault differ greatly from Michigan and their balanced attack led by J.J. McCarthy and running back Blake Corum.
In comparing the two teams based on their College Football Playoff semifinal performances, the differences can be seen immediately. Penix threw for more yards (430) than Michigan gained overall (351), but the Wolverines also held Alabama to just 288 yards and a total of 115 passing yards. Jalen Milroe’s numbers in that game were dragged down by Michigan’s six sacks and they did a lot of it by disguising a lone rusher and running stunts with the front four. Getting similar pressure would allow Michigan to keep a lot of guys back in coverage.
Can Washington match up in the trenches with a Wolverines bunch that largely pushed Alabama around throughout the Rose Bowl? Washington had 3.3 yards per carry against Texas, who came in with the fifth-best defense in yards per carry allowed. Michigan went into the game against Alabama ranked sixth.
On the flip side, Washington’s run defense gave up over six yards per carry to Texas and went into the game tied for 77th in yards per carry allowed. Corum and the Wolverines offensive front look to be positioned for tremendous success, but will that be enough if the Huskies are finding bigger chunks of real estate through the air?
The Sugar Bowl featured over 1,000 yards of offense. The Rose Bowl crept over 600 thanks to overtime. So, that will be the main talking point as we look ahead to the Natty. Will Washington’s offense win the day against Michigan’s No. 1 defense or will the Huskies be able to find some success against Jesse Minter’s unit? Washington’s wide receiver group is a huge upgrade to Alabama’s and Penix is a much more polished passer with underrated mobility.
With such different approaches to winning games, we can raise a lot of questions about both teams. Michigan hasn’t seen a passing game like this, but Washington hasn’t really been challenged physically like this and also looks like a very one-dimensional unit, especially with Dillon Johnson leaving the game hurt in the final minutes against the Longhorns.
What will ultimately win out? We’ll have a week to talk about that and break down every single element of this game inside and out.
My initial thought is to expect some points and look over the total of 56. Michigan has a knack for calling gadget plays at the right time and success running the ball should open up some play-action passing windows. Washington’s wide receivers may be the best overall group in the nation and Ohio State, the closest comparison that we have based on Michigan’s opponents, had over 15 yards per reception in The Game back in November. If Johnson can’t go or is very limited, DeBoer will have no choice but to rely heavily on the pass and that may very well be to the team’s benefit.
Initial Lean: Over 56
Many would say that this has been the best college football season for the Pac-12 in a very long time. Now, a conference member will get the chance to play for the National Championship in what will be the conference’s final season. In fact, the Washington Huskies will soon be a member of the Big Ten, so it seems only fitting that they get a head start by facing the Michigan Wolverines for college football’s ultimate prize on Monday January 8.
In the CFP semifinals, the Wolverines beat Alabama in overtime 27-20 and the Huskies outlasted Texas 37-31 with a last-second stand to set the stage for a matchup of contrasting styles. Washington’s last claimed national title came back in 1991. Michigan’s came in 1997. One of those droughts will end in Houston, Texas on Monday night.
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Washington Huskies vs. Michigan Wolverines (-4.5, 56)
Monday January 8, 7:30 p.m. ETWashington and Michigan actually squared off back in 2021, but a lot of things have changed for both teams. More has changed for the Huskies, as second-year head coach Kalen DeBoer and Heisman Trophy finalist Michael Penix Jr. injected new life into the offense just one season after that meeting. The Huskies and their aerial assault differ greatly from Michigan and their balanced attack led by J.J. McCarthy and running back Blake Corum.
In comparing the two teams based on their College Football Playoff semifinal performances, the differences can be seen immediately. Penix threw for more yards (430) than Michigan gained overall (351), but the Wolverines also held Alabama to just 288 yards and a total of 115 passing yards. Jalen Milroe’s numbers in that game were dragged down by Michigan’s six sacks and they did a lot of it by disguising a lone rusher and running stunts with the front four. Getting similar pressure would allow Michigan to keep a lot of guys back in coverage.
Can Washington match up in the trenches with a Wolverines bunch that largely pushed Alabama around throughout the Rose Bowl? Washington had 3.3 yards per carry against Texas, who came in with the fifth-best defense in yards per carry allowed. Michigan went into the game against Alabama ranked sixth.
On the flip side, Washington’s run defense gave up over six yards per carry to Texas and went into the game tied for 77th in yards per carry allowed. Corum and the Wolverines offensive front look to be positioned for tremendous success, but will that be enough if the Huskies are finding bigger chunks of real estate through the air?
The Sugar Bowl featured over 1,000 yards of offense. The Rose Bowl crept over 600 thanks to overtime. So, that will be the main talking point as we look ahead to the Natty. Will Washington’s offense win the day against Michigan’s No. 1 defense or will the Huskies be able to find some success against Jesse Minter’s unit? Washington’s wide receiver group is a huge upgrade to Alabama’s and Penix is a much more polished passer with underrated mobility.
With such different approaches to winning games, we can raise a lot of questions about both teams. Michigan hasn’t seen a passing game like this, but Washington hasn’t really been challenged physically like this and also looks like a very one-dimensional unit, especially with Dillon Johnson leaving the game hurt in the final minutes against the Longhorns.
What will ultimately win out? We’ll have a week to talk about that and break down every single element of this game inside and out.
My initial thought is to expect some points and look over the total of 56. Michigan has a knack for calling gadget plays at the right time and success running the ball should open up some play-action passing windows. Washington’s wide receivers may be the best overall group in the nation and Ohio State, the closest comparison that we have based on Michigan’s opponents, had over 15 yards per reception in The Game back in November. If Johnson can’t go or is very limited, DeBoer will have no choice but to rely heavily on the pass and that may very well be to the team’s benefit.
Initial Lean: Over 56
