Michigan vs. Washington: College Football Playoff 2024 National Championship Game Preview, Predictions, History, and More

2024-01-08 14:09:23

The college football season finale pits two undefeateds once morest each other on Monday night: No. 1 Michigan and No. 2 Washington. It is the first appearance in the College Football Playoff final for both teams and their first appearances in a national championship game period.

It is the first time since the College Football Playoff’s debut season in 2014 and just the second time since 2005, the Bowl Subdivision’s championship game will not feature at least one team from the SEC. Instead, tonight’s matchup will feature two current and future members of the Big Ten. This marks the fourth time in playoff history the championship game will pit two unbeaten teams.

USA TODAY Sports will have the latest updates, highlights, analysis and news all day long and throughout the game. Follow along.

What time is kickoff for Michigan vs. Washington?

Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. ET on Monday, Jan. 8, 2024.

Where to watch Michigan vs. Washington

You can watch or stream on ESPN.

The Wolverines and the Huskies are playing at NRG Stadium in Houston.

Michigan vs. Washington predictions

Here is how USA TODAY Sports’ experts are predicting tonight’s national championship:

• Scooby Axson: Washington 34, Michigan 24
• Jace Evans: Michigan 35, Washington 31
• Paul Myerberg: Michigan 27, Washington 23
• Erick Smith: Michigan 34, Washington 24
• Eddie Timanus: Washington 27, Michigan 21
• Then Clouds: Michigan 27, Washington 21

The top college football betting apps favor Michigan over Washington in the national championship game. The Wolverines are 5-point favorites over the Huskies, according to the BetMGM college football odds. Looking to wager? Check out the best mobile sports betting apps offeringcollege football betting promos in 2023.

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The 6-foot-3, 213-pound quarterback was 342-of-576 passing (59.4%) for 4,197 yards, 29 touchdowns with 32 picks in four years at Indiana. He has more than doubled that production in two seasons with Washington, where he’s completed 66% of his passes (698-of-1,058) for 9,289 yards, 66 TDs and 17 picks. In 2023 alone, Penix was 336-of-504 for 4,648 yards, 35 touchdowns and 9 interceptions.

The 6-foot-3, 202-pound quarterback has played in 39 games in three seasons for Michigan, completing 472 of 695 passes (.680) for 6,086 yards, 49 touchdowns and 11 picks. He’s also rushed for 601 yards and 10 TDs on 157 carries. In 2023 alone, McCarthy went 230-of-314 passing for 2,851 yards, 22 touchdowns and four interceptions.

Michigan vs. Washington history

The Wolverines and Huskies have played 13 times since 1953. Michigan holds the edge, 8-5.

The Huskies and Wolverines last played in on Sept. 11, 2021. Michigan won, 31-10.

Michigan national championships football

According to the NCAA, the Wolverines have titles in: 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1918, 1923, 1933, 1948, 1997. Michigan says it also has won titles in 1932 and 1947. — Jordan Mendoza

The Huskies have two (1960 and 1991), but it kind of depends who you ask. In 1960, following beating Minnesota 17-7 in the Rose Bowl and finishing with a record of 10-1, Washington was named the national champion by the Helms Athletic Foundation. When the Helms Foundation eventually dissolved in 1969, much of its archives went to the Amateur Athletic Union. Want to know something even weirder regarding the 1960 national championship? The Huskies didn’t claim it until 2007 — and that’s when they had a trophy made for it. — Lindsay Quick

Behind legendary coach Don James, and following Washington‘s 34-14 thumping of Michigan in the 1991 Rose Bowl, the coaches poll (at the time administered jointly by USA TODAY and CNN) named the Huskies national champs. The Associated Press poll, on the other hand, selected the Miami Hurricanes as the No. 1 team, with the Huskies coming in at No. 2. Miami had also finished 12-0 that season, ending with a 22-0 win over Nebraska in the Orange Bowl. Because of this, Miami also claims the 1991 national championship. Some consider the 1991 Washington team one of the best college football squads of all time. — Lindsay Quick

The biggest factor in deciding the national championship may come down to this: Which team can dictate the flow of action on offense? Michigan will be hard to beat if running the ball effectively on first down and putting together the sort of sustained drives that would wear down the Huskies’ defense. If able to get up and down the field by sharing the wealth among three of four receivers, Washington might give Michigan nightmarish flashbacks to the humbling loss to the Horned Frogs.

“Yeah, I think the aggressiveness is just who we are,” Washington coach Kalen DeBoer said.

Don’t look for either team to shrink from the challenge. If ever in doubt in the first place, Michigan’s physical and mental toughness has been solidified by the overtime win once morest the Crimson Tide. Washington’s fortitude has been on display all throughout a season defined by narrow, single-possession wins. Which team blinks? Read Paul Myerberg’s full preview here.

Here’s a look:

Louis Elbel wrote “The Victors” as a music student at Michigan in 1898. Here are the main parts, you can find the full lyrics here.

Hail! to the victors valiant

Hail! to the conqu’ring heroes

Hail! Hail! to Michigan

the leaders and best

Hail! to the victors valiant

Hail! to the conqu’ring heroes

Hail! Hail! to Michigan,

the champions of the West!

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