National Championship Recap
The 2023 college football season ended in Houston with the controversial Michigan Wolverines winning their first National Championship in the Harbaugh-era and their first title since 1997.
Bias warning: As a big fan of Michael Penix and someone with strong personal opinion on the Wolverines' controversy over the past year or so, I was fully backing Washington for the win. I will try to avoid bias throughout my recap, but I will write a second post just for my personal thoughts on the game that will be linked at the bottom.
Pregame:
This is the National Championship! What more needs to be said to build the hype around a single football game? Two undefeated conference champions came to Houston, Texas with one goal in mind. The Michigan Wolverines ranked #1, led by Coach Jim Harbaugh and start players JJ McCarthy and Blake Corum, winners of the Big Ten, and coming off an overtime Rose Bowl win against Alabama were in a National Championship Game for the first time in their history (which, surprisingly, includes the entire BCS era) with their last title being in 1997. The Washington Huskies ranked #2, led by Coach Kalen DeBoer and Heisman finalist Michael Penix with his entourage of incredible receivers, final winners of the Pac-12, and coming off a thrilling victory over Texas in the Sugar Bowl are also strangers to National Championship games with their last title being in 1991 where they were co-winners with Miami. The stage was set for a battle of giants.
1st Quarter:
Washington won the coin toss and elected to differ, giving Michigan the first shot on offense, hoping to move past their woes from a week ago and play like they had all season. While all eyes were on McCarthy and Corum, it was Donovan Edwards who struck first with a 41 yard touchdown run, courtesy of an amazing hole opened up by the offensive line. Washington also got a strong start offensively, but they were held up inside the Michigan 10 yard line and forced to settle for a field goal. On Michigan's second drive, it was once again Donovan Edwards with a 46-yard run up the middle to the end zone. Following a three and out for Washington, the game began to look like Georgia vs TCU one year prior. Washington was completely incapable of stopping the Wolverine run game and Penix was not having his best night. To end the first quarter, Blake Corum ran up the middle for what should only have been a short gain, but he broke free for 59 yards deep into Washington territory. This game couldn't be over already, could it?
2nd Quarter:
To start the second quarter, Washington finally got an all-important stop and forced Michigan to settle for a field goal, but they were still down two touchdowns without much sign of life. After reaching midfield on their next possession, the flags started to rain in on the Washington offense, backing them up. On fourth a medium, Penix saw a wide open Odunze, but overthrew the pass and Michigan regained the ball. The Huskies finally put together a defensive hold, but the Michigan defense matched it. After the pair of three and outs, Michigan drove the ball inside Husky territory looking to end it before the half, but were stopped on fourth and short. Washington, on offense once again, finally found some brief rhythm. Instead of settling for the field goal on fourth and goal, though, the Huskies capped the drive off with a touchdown to bring the game back into contention. After then holding Michigan to a point, things were starting to look up for the Huskies as they took the game to half with a chance to tie it up.
The first half was a dominant performance by Michigan all around. This was aided by some poor Washington defending and a rough start for the Husky offense, but take nothing away from the Michigan game plan.
3rd Quarter:
Washington would receive the second half kickoff and Penix looked poised to lead a game tying drive. Before people had returned their seats and a single yard had been gained, Penix threw a game changing interception. The momentum was once again Michigan's and it was not going to fade away this time. Despite holding them to a field goal, Washington was looking defeated. The Huskies finally got something going on offense, but had to settle for another field goal. Washington needed a huge stop here. After a three and out, Washington heads began to pop back up. There was hope again! That was short lived. This was the start of the punt fest that bled into the fourth quarter. Neither team able to put a drive together.
4th Quarter:
After a couple more punts, it was Michigan who finally had the breakthrough to nobody's surprise. A touchdown with 7 minutes to play crushed the Husky hearts. If that hadn't iced it, the interception on Washington's next drive certainly did. Michigan then drove down and scored one last time to make sure everyone knew who was winning. After failing to convert on fourth down, Michigan kneeled it out to win their first title since 1997.
Summary:
The trend seems to be that National Championship games will be blowouts. It's a sad trend that I certainly hope does not carry on into next year. Washington just did not look up to the challenge like they had a week prior against an amazing Texas team. Michigan showed that defense does, in fact, win championships, but it felt like the Huskies left a lot of potential out on the field that we will never get to see. It's hard to find just one word to sum up how the game felt. Some might say "Redemption" for Michigan, others will call foul with the controversies surrounding the Wolverines, but at the end of the day, we have crowned a new national champion and the 2023 college football season has come to a close.