The 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship game is set to feature two powerhouse teams – the #1 ranked Michigan Wolverines will face off against the #2 Washington Huskies. Though Washington comes in as the underdog, their star quarterback Michael Penix Jr. has led his team on an incredible run to make it to the finals. As the Huskies prepare to take on a tough Wolverines defense, here’s a breakdown of what to expect in this epic championship showdown.
Lead up to the Big Game
The Wolverines and Huskies took very different paths to reach college football’s biggest stage. Michigan steamrolled through much of their competition this season behind Heisman finalist Blake Corum’s dominant rushing attack. Though Corum got injured late in the year, Michigan continued their march towards playoff glory, capping their season by beating #5 Alabama in the semifinals.
Washington meanwhile lost early matchups to powerhouses like Michigan State, but found their groove midway through the year once Michael Penix Jr. fully recovered from injuries. Penix led a late-season surge to win the Pac-12 title, then managed a narrow upset victory over #3 TCU to set up a date with Michigan. Though Washington comes in as 7.5 point underdogs, their battle-tested mentality makes them a dangerous foe.
| Team | Record | AP Ranking | Championship Appearances |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michigan | 14-0 | #1 | 12th |
| Washington | 13-1 | #2 | 3rd |
Strengths and Key Matchups
Washington’s Offensive Firepower
The Huskies will rely heavily on Michael Penix Jr.’s passing and scrambling ability to put points on the board. Penix finished top 5 nationally with over 4500 passing yards and 46 touchdowns this season. His deep ball threat Rome Odunze and shifty receiver Jalen McMillan both topped 1000 yards receiving and give Penix elite weapons against Michigan’s stingy defense.
Penix and the Huskies offense will square off against defensive mastermind Jesse Minter’s group, which ranks #1 in scoring defense. All-American cornerback Will Johnson will likely draw the matchup against Odunze. If Washington can’t get their passing game going, running back Wayne Taulapapa provides another dimension alongside Penix’s mobility. Expect an aerial shootout reminiscent of Washington’s past title game appearances.
Containing Blake Corum
Though Blake Corum got injured late in the season, the All-American running back is expected to suit up against Washington. Corum racked up over 1800 yards and 20 touchdowns even while missing significant time. Michigan will test Washington’s 74th ranked run defense early and often with Corum and backup Donovan Edwards.
Husky linebackers Cam Bright and Kris Moll will be tasked with slowing down Michigan’s ground attack. The Wolverines dominated opponents all season thanks to their rushing prowess, so taking that away is paramount if Washington wants to pull the upset. Stuffing Corum can put pressure on quarterback J.J. McCarthy to beat them.
Red Zone Efficiency
Scoring touchdowns in the red zone instead of field goals could decide this championship bout. Both teams boast impressive red zone offenses – Michigan converted touchdowns on 79% of their red zone trips, while Washington scored six on 75% of chances. However, Michigan’s defense only allowed opponents to reach the end zone on 36% of red zone possessions compared to Washington’s more porous 51% rate.
With two evenly matched teams, converting drives into seven points instead of three makes a massive difference. Kicker options Peyton Henry for Washington and Jake Moody for Michigan are both reliable, but they’ll hope to be watching from the sidelines as their offenses punch it in.
Turnover Battle
Another key statistic that could determine the outcome is turnovers. Michigan’s defense forced 23 takeaways this year, while only giving the ball away 7 times themselves. Their +16 turnover margin leads the nation. Washington meanwhile broke even on turnovers, losing the ball 20 times and taking it away on 20 occasions.
Penix’s gunslinger mentality led to 9 interceptions this season, so avoiding mistakes against this Michigan defense is critical. Forcing the Wolverines into uncharacteristic errors could provide Washington’s best window to seize momentum.
The team that wins the turnover battle improves their chances to hoist that championship trophy tremendously.
Supporting Casts
Beyond the stars like Penix and Corum, both Washington and Michigan have received major boosts from their surrounding casts.
For Washington, Bralen Trice’s pass rushing prowess resulted in 14.5 sacks to lead the Pac 12. He forms a fearsome defensive end duo with Jeremiah Martin to pressure quarterbacks. Rookie cornerback Jaivion Green locked up the other half of the field from all-conference performer Jordan Perryman as well.
Michigan’s secondary features two Thorpe Award finalists in DJ Turner and Rod Moore. Turner picked off 6 passes while Moore made the clinching interception against TCU. Tight end Luke Schoonmaker became an integral piece of the offense too as a dual threat receiver and blocker.
These critical supporting players could make their mark on a championship game where the margin for error is razor thin between two talented squads.
Prediction for an Instant Classic
With the Wolverines early touchdown favorites, most experts are picking Michigan thanks to their statistical dominance against a tough schedule. However, Washington’s ability to rise to the occasion as underdogs makes this a difficult game to forecast.
In what looks destined to become an instant classic championship bout, we’ll say Washington covers the 7.5 point spread behind a monster performance from Michael Penix Jr. The Michigan rushing attack gives them the edge, but Penix makes enough winning plays late to bring the Huskies within a touchdown.
Final Score Prediction: Michigan 38, Washington 31
The country will be buzzing about Michael Penix cementing his legacy with 400+ yards and 4 touchdowns to nearly take down CFP juggernaut Michigan. The Wolverines win their first title since 1997, but Washington’s rebuilding project officially returns them to national prominence.
We can’t wait to see it unfold!
What This Matchup Means for College Football’s Future
Regardless of the outcome, this Michigan vs Washington clash has major implications on the College Football Playoff picture moving forward.
After years of complaints about a lack of parity, seeing two fresh participants in the championship brings excitement about expanding the field. Seeing Washington battle tested in the Pac-12 emerge to challenge SEC power Alabama and Big Ten elite Michigan will only increase calls for more inclusion.
If Washington springs the upset, it would fully legitimize the calls to allow underdogs a chance even if they lost an early regular season game. The four team model faces scrutiny for leaving out teams like Washington last year when they had two losses. An expanded playoff with automatic bids for Power 5 champions could pave the way for more Cinderella runs like the Huskies have gone on.
A Michigan win keeps the status quo and validates leaving out two loss teams to prioritize conference champions and top teams worthy of a bye. But the calls for an expanded 8 or 12 team playoff will only amplify after this year regardless.
Strap in for a wild championship game between Michigan and Washington that delivers must-see television and shapes the playoff discussion!
To err is human, but AI does it too. Whilst factual data is used in the production of these articles, the content is written entirely by AI. Double check any facts you intend to rely on with another source.
