Michigan Wolverines are College Football Champions

For the first time since 1948, the Michigan Wolverines stand alone in the college football history books (co-champion in 1997). The Wolverines handled the Huskies by a score of 34-13 and finished 15-0 on the season. Despite not having head coach Jim Harbaugh for half of the season and allegations surrounding the team, the Big Ten champions blocked out the noise and delivered a trophy to Ann Arbor.

How it happened

Michigan didn’t waste any time after receiving the opening kickoff. Donovan Edwards capped off an eight-play five-minute drive with a 41-yard burst for the first score of the game. Washington answered with a field goal after being locked down near the goal line by the Wolverines’ defense. With the score 7-3, Michigan kept pounding the rock and Edwards found another hole for a 46-yard touchdown run. After Michigan tacked on a field goal the Huskies finally got some offense going as Penix hit McMillan on 4th and goal right before the half to cut the Wolverines lead to 17-10. 

During halftime, Jim Harbaugh said the team needed to take back momentum and that is exactly what they did as they picked off Penix on the first play of the second half which resulted in a field goal. Washington knocked in a field goal of their own, but that would be all the offense could do for the remainder of the game as the Wolverines defense shut down the comeback attempt. Blake Corum sealed the game by adding two more touchdowns, putting Michigan in cruise control. 

The Wolverines run game looked unstoppable in the first half as Corum and Edwards had explosive plays left and right. The Washington defense did adjust in the second half and forced a lot of punts, but Washington turnovers gave Michigan some short fields which allowed them to add to their lead. On the other side of the ball, the Moore Award winner, the best O-line in the country, was exposed by the Wolverines’ front seven. Penix was constantly pressured and had to make uncomfortable rushed throws that were off-target. The few times Penix had an open receiver for a big play the throw was either too far or there was a penalty. 

Players of the Game 

Blake Corum: 21 rushes, 134 yards, 6.4 average, 59 longest rush, 2 touchdowns

Will Johnson: 2 tackles, 2 assisted tackles, 1 interception