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The 2024 College Football Playoff championship game between Michigan football and Washington is set to be a heavyweight battle between the two remaining undefeated Power Five teams in the country.
Michigan finally got over the CFP semifinal hump this season with a 27-20 overtime win over Alabama in the Rose Bowl that came down to a stop on the final play of the game. Washington beat Texas later that night in the Sugar Bowl, 37-31, also coming up with a defensive stop — a batted pass in the end zone on the final play.
Michigan is looking for its first national championship since 1997 (which was also the last time the Wolverines won the Rose Bowl). Washington is looking for its first national title since 1991, when the Huskies beat Michigan in Pasadena, California, to grab the coaches poll’s top spot (while Miami was No. 1 in the AP poll).
Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh waves at fans to celebrate a 27-20 Rose Bowl win over Alabama at the 2024 Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., on Monday, Jan. 1, 2024.
SHAWN WINDSOR: Michigan football has the secret to beating Washington. And it has Ohio State to thank.
The game will be a battle of two of the best units in football: Washington’s high-powered offense, led by quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and its award-winning offensive line and receiving corps, and Michigan’s top-ranked defense that has no problem generating pressure, containing the line of scrimmage and forcing turnovers.
On the other side of the ball, Michigan will lean on the balanced attack of Blake Corum on the ground and J.J. McCarthy through the air to solve Washington’s defense, which has been susceptible to giving up yards and points at times this season, but has delivered in clutch situations to help the Huskies to an 8-0 record in one-score games this year.
Michigan is a 4½-point favorite to win its first national…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/washington-vs-michigan-football-national-110634305.html
Author : Detroit Free Press
Publish date : 2024-01-06 11:06:34
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