Breaking down the players to watch, X-factors and everything you need to know about Michigan vs. Washington in the CFP national title game.
All season, it was « Michigan vs. Everybody » within the walls of the Wolverines’ program.
Now it’s down to Michigan vs. Washington.
The No. 1 Wolverines (14-0) will face the No. 2 Huskies (14-0) in the College Football Playoff National Championship game on Jan. 8 at NRG Stadium in Houston. This year’s title game — the last in a four-team playoff before the field expands to 12 in 2024 — will feature two undefeated teams making their first appearance in the championship game in the BCS era.
Galvanized by accusations of an elaborate cheating scandal that became the biggest story of the season, Michigan has found ways to overcome obstacles and win — a consistent trait that propelled them to a 27-20 overtime win against SEC champion Alabama on Monday night in the CFP Semifinal at the Rose Bowl Game Presented by Prudential.
« It was do or die, » Michigan offensive tackle Trevor Keegan said. « … We’ve been through some things. We’ve had to overcome obstacles and adversity. People can say it’s adversity. People can saw we cheated, but I really don’t give a f—. It was adversity, and this team relied on each other and it showed that last quarter and in overtime. »
After losing in the semifinals in each of the past two seasons, Michigan earned its first CFP win. It’s also the last time Washington will represent the Pac-12, as the league has been decimated by realignment, and the Huskies are joining the Big Ten in 2024. With Alabama’s loss, this will be the first CFP national championship game since Ohio State faced Oregon in the inaugural 2014 season that won’t feature an SEC team.
Instead, it will highlight two teams with a chance to become only the sixth team in major college football history to finish 15-0 or better.
No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 2 Washington
CFP National Championship Presented by AT&T
When: Monday, Jan. 8 at 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: NRG Stadium, Houston
How to watch: ESPN and ESPN App
Jump to:
Coaches | Paths to the championship
Key players | Matchups to watch
Last meeting | X-factors
Michigan’s Jim Harbaugh: Heading into the 2021 season, Harbaugh’s future in Ann Arbor was tenuous, as he entered that fall 0-5 against rival Ohio State and without any CFP appearances. He has since flipped the script, beating the Buckeyes three straight seasons to win the Big Ten and advance to the CFP. This was the first time, though, that Harbaugh won a semifinal game, snapping his six-game losing streak in bowls. With the win against Alabama, Harbaugh has a chance to win a national title for his alma mater, where he played quarterback from 1983 to 1986.
Harbaugh, in the second year of a five-year contract with Michigan, can’t escape the speculation surrounding his future with the program. There are still two separate and ongoing NCAA investigations — one for alleged recruiting violations, and another for an alleged sign stealing scheme — that resulted in Harbaugh being suspended for half of the regular season.
