No. 1 Michigan beats No. 2 Washington 34-13 for first national title since 1997

HOUSTON, TX – JANUARY 08: RB Donovan Edwards (7) of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates with QB J.J. McCarthy (9) of the Michigan Wolverines after running for a 46 yard touchdown during the Michigan Wolverines versus the Washington Huskies CFP National Championship game on January 8, 2024, at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX. (Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Michigan is the best team in the country.

The No. 1 Wolverines jumped out to an early lead and put No. 2 Washington away late to win Monday’s national championship game 34-13 and finish the 2023 season as the only undefeated team in college football.

The win is Michigan’s first national title since the Wolverines claimed a share of the national championship in 1997. It also caps an incredibly tumultuous year that saw coach Jim Harbaugh suspended twice for six of Michigan’s 15 games.

Much like he did in the Rose Bowl, running back Blake Corum salted the game away for the Wolverines on Monday night. His 12-yard TD run with 7:09 to go gave Michigan a two-touchdown lead and ended any hope Washington had of a comeback.

Michigan looked like it was going to run away with the game in the first quarter. Literally. The Wolverines rushed for an astonishing 174 yards in the first quarter and averaged over 19 yards a carry as Donovan Edwards broke out with two long touchdown runs.

Edwards rushed for a 41-yard TD on Michigan’s first drive of the game and then topped it less than eight minutes later with a 46-yard TD run. They were unexpected big plays from a running back who struggled throughout the 2023 season after a superb finish to 2022.

The junior took over as Michigan’s No. 1 back after Corum suffered a knee injury late in the season a year ago and was incredibly explosive. But he averaged less than four yards a carry entering Monday night’s title…

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Publish date : 2024-01-09 04:10:53

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