Photo: Google Image
Matthew Adams
Managing Editor
History was made as two teams who had not made the NCAA National Championship in over three decades entered one of college football’s biggest stages.
Both the Michigan Wolverines and the Washington Huskies came into the game with a record of 14-0. This was one of many factors that added to the pressure to win the National Championship.
One factor that would deter the Huskies would be their 1,100-yard rusher, Dillion Johnson who would be questionable for a return.
The ball game started with the Wolverines gaining control of the ball on their own 16. This would be an unpleasant field position for the Wolverines.
The field position would not halt Michigan as it would be first down after first down. With a pair of runs from Blake Corum and Kalel Mullings and J.J. McCarthy connecting passes to Cornelius Johnson, this would put the Wolverines at Washington’s 37-yard line.
This Michigan drive would see an obstacle as Washington would sack McCarthy but that did not puncture Michigan’s momentum. Donavan Johnson would have a monstrous 41-yard run that would put Michigan up 7-0.
Washington would get the ball, but the Michigan defense would clobber them over a 14-play drive, resulting in a field goal.
Michigan would get the ball back and quickly strike again within a four-play span. Donavan Johnson would score again this time it would be a 46-yard touchdown. The score was now 14-3.
Those two dominant runs from Donavan Johnson would boost the team morale even higher but the next drive showed otherwise. Washington would answer their first touchdown of the game.
In the next couple of series, the trend was the punt. During the 2nd quarter, there would only be a Washington punt and a Michigan touchdown. The score was now 17-10.
The 3rd quarter started on a bad note for Washington as Penix threw an interception. This interception would be transferred into a Michigan field goal. 20-13 would be the score to go into the third quarter.
There would be a touchdown drought throughout the third and fourth quarters. The next seven series would end in a punt. This game would look to be promising as both teams would keep each other on their toes with stellar defensive performances.
With the game being within arms-reach, Washington was able to gain the ball multiple times but the Michigan defense was in the best position possible to show Washington why they were the number one-rated defense in the nation.
This Washington slump was beneficial for the Michigan offense as the Wolverines would have a short and sweet 5-play, 71-yard drive led by 1,200+ rusher Corum. 27-10 would be the score and this would pull the Wolverines closer to the National Championship title.
Washington would gain possession but fail to make an impression as the Penix would throw an interception to 2nd team All-American Mike Sainristil. Sainristil would return it for 81 yards and this would set the Wolverines up to seal the game with a Corum touchdown.
With this win, this Michigan team would become a historic team as Corum would break the record for most rushing touchdowns ever in Michigan football and McCarthy would improve as one the top quarterbacks in Michigan history with a record of 27-1. The only loss would be from the Texas Christian game in 2022.
Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh would be asked in an interview with ESPN how he reacted when he rewatched the game on television.
Harbaugh would state, “So many guys stepped up when we needed the play.” He would also state, “I was really into this game,” which would show in their play.
Jackson State students would have predictions before the game but would be crushed as a result. Vance Linton, a junior marketing major from Atlanta, Ga., would have the correct prediction with Michigan winning it.
“I got Michigan. They have all the right pieces to make it happen,” said Linton.
Dejon Michael, a computer science major also from Atlanta, Ga., would have a different opinion but the same prediction.
Michael stated, “Washington is overrated and I don’t think that they can be up to par with a Big Ten team,” said Michael.
With this win on Harbaugh’s resume, he is now in NFL coaching talks with a supposed interview with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Also, some Michigan and Washington players are now declaring for the NFL draft such as Penix, J.J. McCarthy, and Corum.
