The Michigan Wolverines beat the Alabama Crimson Tide in the College Football Playoff Semifinal to get to the Championship. The Washington Huskies had a shootout with the Texas Longhorns, and their defense made a big stand to stop the Longhorns offense and allow the Huskies to advance to the Championship.
Michigan Wolverines 14-0 vs. Washington Huskies 14-0
Date: Monday, January 8
Time: 7:30 p.m. EST
TV Channel: ESPN
Location: NRG Stadium, Houston, TX
Line: Wolverines -4.5 / O/U: 55.5
2023 Team Stats
Michigan:
2023 Record — 14-0 (10-0 in Big Ten)
2023 Offense —
Total Yards: 5,298
Passing Yards: 3,065
Rushing Yards: 2,233
2023 Defense —
Total Yards Allowed: 3,116
Passing Yards Allowed: 1,984
Rushing Yards Allowed: 1,132
2023 Points Scored: 36.0
2023 Points Allowed: 9.5
2023 CFP Ranking: 1
Washington:
2023 Record — 14-0 (10-0 in Pac 12)
2023 Offense P/G —
Total Yards: 6,630
Passing Yards: 4,900
Rushing Yards: 1,730
2023 Defense P/G —
Total Yards Allowed: 5,160
Passing Yards Allowed: 3,421
Rushing Yards Allowed: 1,739
2023 Cumulative Points Scored: 37.6
2023 Cumulative Points Allowed: 24.1
2023 CFP Ranking: 2
Series History/All-Time Records
All-time head-to-head record: Michigan leads 8-5-0
Current streak: Michigan has won two straight
Last Michigan win: 2021 (31-10)
Last Washington win: 2001 (23-18)
2023 Player Stats
Michigan
Passing: J.J. McCarthy- 230-314, 2851 yards, 22-4 (TD-INT)
Rushing: Blake Corum – 237 ATT, 1111 YDS, 25 TD
Receiving: Roman Wilson – 45 REC, 735 YDS, 12 TD
Tackles: Junior Colson – 89 (40-49)
Sacks: Jaylen Harrell – 6.5
Interceptions: Mike Sainristil – 5
Washington
Passing: Michael Penix Jr. – 336-504, 4648 YDS, 35-9 (TD-INT)
Rushing: Dillon Johnson – 222 ATT, 1162 YDS, 16 TD
Receiving: Rome Odunze – 87 REC, 1553 YDS, 13 TD
Tackles: Dominique Hampton – 98 (58-40)
Sacks: Bralen Trice – 7
Interceptions: Michael Powell & Jabbar Muhammad – 3
Michigan Players To Watch:
Offense: Running Back – Blake Corum – Senior
This game is why Corum came back to Michigan, and now he gets his chance to make his statement. Against Alabama, he hit the Wolverines record books as he now has the most touchdowns in Michigan history. The last time he faced Washington, he had 171 yards rushing on 21 carries. He will be ready to go and looking to put up similar numbers as he looks to lead Michigan to a National Championship.
Defense: Defensive Back – Mike Sainristil – Graduate Student
This is Sainristil’s last game of his college career, and this season, he led the Michigan defense in interceptions. He probably will be on Ja’Lynn Polk, who, against Texas, had five catches for 122 yards and a touchdown. Look for Sainristil to force an interception and get the ball back to the Michigan offense.
Bottom Line: Michigan Looks for First Championship Since 1997
The Michigan Wolverines have reached their goal and are in the National Championship. This will be a tough task against a good Huskies offense, an offense Michigan has not faced this season, but the Wolverines own a defense that Washington hasn’t faced this season either. This will be a great game and a physical game. The winner will be the lone undefeated team in all of college football in 2023-24, and they will get to hoist the trophy in the final 4-team playoff.
