College Football Playoff national championship game

by

Location: NRG Stadium, Houston

Date: 7:30 p.m. ET, Jan. 8

TV: ESPN

Line: Michigan -5.5

Total: 55.5

We’ve arrived at the finish line of the 2023-24 college football season. It’s 14-0 Michigan against 14-0 Washington for all the marbles in the final edition of the four-team College Football Playoff before it expands to 12 teams next season. This is the fourth time in the playoff era where undefeated teams will meet for the national championship.

Michigan earned its spot here despite controversies surrounding the program and its polarizing head coach Jim Harbaugh. The Wolverines outlasted Alabama in overtime at the Rose Bowl in one semifinal game, while Washington held off Texas to win the other semifinal at the Sugar Bowl.

These teams bring contrasting styles, as Michigan looks to lean on its running game, led by Blake Corum, and its defense. Washington feeds off explosive plays in the passing game, led by dynamic quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and a crop of NFL-caliber receivers. The Huskies also like to balance things out with running back Dillon Johnson, who was hobbled in the Rose Bowl but will play in the title game.

Who will be crowned champion in the end? We’ll track the journey to the title below.

Live24 updates

  • Washington isn’t able to do anything with its possession either and punts it back to Michigan, which will take over at its own 33. Just under 8 minutes left in the half.

  • Michigan goes three-and-out for the first time this game. Washington will have it back at its own 20 after a touchback.

  • Huskies JUST miss on long pass play

    Washington goes for it on fourth down and Michael Penix has Rome Odunze wide open but they just can’t connect. What a missed opportunity for the Huskies to get right back in this thing.

    The Wolverines now take over at their own 47 with just over 10 minutes left in the second quarter.

  • Michael Penix and the Huskies offense is on the move now with a couple easy completions to Rome Odunze and Ja’Lynn Polk. They’re out past midfield.

  • Michigan 17, Washington 3

    The Wolverines are only able to tack on three after Blake Corum’s deep run. The Huskies needed that stop badly.

  • Blake Corum breaks loose!

    Now it’s Michigan’s No. 1 running back getting in on the action as Corum breaks to the outside and sprints all the way down to the Washington 20-yard line on a 59-yard run. Things are looking bleak for Washington as the first quarter comes to an end.

  • It’s a quick three-and-out for Washington on the other side. Michigan will have another chance to add to its early lead.

  • Touchdown Michigan!

    Michigan 14, Washington 3

    It’s Donovan Edwards AGAIN as the back bolts straight through the Washington defense for a 46-yard touchdown. Michigan is in control of things early.

  • Michigan with a HUGE completion on the first play of the ensuing possession. Washington bit on the play action and J.J. McCarthy finds Roman Wilson for a 37-yard gain!

  • Washington’s Grady Gross just slipped that kick inside the right upright, but the Huskies are on the board.

  • Michigan 7, Washington 3

    The Huskies worked their way down the field and inside the Michigan 10-yard line, but the drive fizzles out there and they settle for a field goal.

  • The Huskies have the ball and are already past midfield after multiple Michael Penix Jr. completions. Tybo Rogers caught the last one and broke a tackle to move the chains.

  • Touchdown Michigan!

    Donovan Edwards bounces a run outside and finds open space, sprinting 41 yards for a score to kick things off in Houston. What an impressive start for the Wolverines!

  • Kalel Mullings breaks off a 14-yard run for Michigan. The Wolverines are close to field goal range now.

  • Michigan playing bully ball early in this one. It has consecutive first downs with its running game and is nearing midfield.

  • Washington wins coin toss, defers

    We are under way in the national championship! Michigan’s offense will have the ball first.

  • NRG Stadium roof leaks pregame with Houston under a tornado watch

    Severe weather is threatening Houston during Monday night’s CFP title game and even making an impact under the domed roof of NRG Stadium.

  • From South Dakota to the national championship: How Kalen DeBoer put Washington in the title conversation

    If you were going to craft a syrupy feel-good tale to counteract the knives-out free-for-all of college football in 2023, you could start right at the very top. When a coach inherits a 4-8 program and overhauls it so dramatically that it reaches the College Football Playoff title game in two years, that’s worth noticing. And when that coach is an itinerant go-where-the-job-is lifer, an overnight success two decades in the making, a product of the country’s most overlooked region, well … you’ve got yourself the ingredients for a fine little tale of ambition achieved and effort rewarded.

    Monday evening, Kalen DeBoer will lead the Washington Huskies into the national championship to face Michigan. It’s the culmination — so far — of a career that’s spanned half the country, one coaching gig at a time. While the entire sport of college football barrels forward into an uncertain future, DeBoer represents the best version of a throwback.

    Washington has overcome long odds to make the national championship. But DeBoer has faced much longer odds to get to this point, starting with the state of his birth.

    Read Jay Busbee’s story on Kalen DeBoer’s unlikely roots.

Reference 

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