The University of Michigan’s football program was victorious on January 8, 2024, after a 34-13 win over the second-ranked team in the nation and the only other undefeated team left, the University of Washington. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division 1 Championship game between the Michigan Wolverines and the Washington Huskies was anticipated to be a more competitive game than the final score suggests. However, the star performances, stunning plays, and close finishes in the three games of the four-team College Football Playoffs made it another success for the NCAA as they plan to switch to an enlarged 12-team playoff format moving forward.
Michigan’s dominance offensively and defensively was an extraordinary representation of their perfect 15-win season and a rewarding finale for a season Michigan fans have waited for since their last championship appearance in 1997. The win was headlined by an excellent performance by senior running back Blake Corum, who had 21 carries for 134 yards and two rushing touchdowns, as well as senior defensive back Mike Sainristil, who had eight total tackles, six of them being solo tackles, and a crucial interception with an 81-yard return that helped eliminate the possibility of a Washington comeback late in the fourth quarter.
On the Huskies’ side of things, all eyes were on the senior quarterback and Heisman Trophy finalist Michael Penix Jr., who had helped lead his team to a 14-0 record before the championship game after being ranked 10th in the Preseason AP Poll. Penix Jr. had an underwhelming game due to the Wolverine defensive pressure, which proved to be a key x-factor for the Michigan victory. For what will likely be his final collegiate game before declaring for the 2024 National Football League (NFL) Draft, Penix Jr. posted a stat line of 255 passing yards, a 53% pass completion rate, one passing touchdown, and two interceptions.
The limited offensive production was also due to the harsh physical punishment Penix Jr. took from several hits throughout the game. Throughout multiple points in the second half after being tackled, Penix Jr. appeared to be in noticeable pain, seeming to be in his ribs and torso mainly. Injury has been a vital concern for Penix Jr. throughout his college career, having the misfortune of several season-ending injuries, including two anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears in 2018 and 2020. In the postgame press conference, Penix Jr. assured reporters that any hits he sustained from this game were not very serious and that he had received clearance from the team doctors to finish the game. Despite being down three scores with little time left in the game, Penix Jr. stayed on the field, stating, “I was just happy that I was able to finish with the guys…I’ve been through it too much. I knew, no matter what, I was going to make sure I finish.”
Michigan’s and Washington’s players, coaches, and programs have much to look forward to and build upon for the following seasons. Washington’s Sugar Bowl win over the third-ranked University of Texas at Austin, a very storied program that has been seen as one of the most competitive programs since the 1990s, provided a better exhibition of the talent of Penix Jr. and other talented players on the roster. Their accomplished season also creates the possibility of the program becoming a new powerhouse and force to be reckoned with in Division 1 football.
Head Coach Jim Harbaugh, who has led the program since 2015, has finally won a national title after years of falling short with competitive rosters. After a close and thrilling Rose Bowl win in the first round of the playoffs against the fourth-ranked University of Alabama in overtime, Harbaugh may be back on his way to coaching in the NFL. This would be his first NFL head coaching job since he coached the San Francisco 49ers from 2011-2014, highlighted by a Super Bowl appearance in 2013, before accepting the Michigan position. As Bleacher Report insider Jordan Schultz reported on the morning of the championship game, “There is mutual interest between the [Las Vegas] Raiders and current Michigan Head Coach Jim Harbaugh. I’m told Harbaugh wants to return to the NFL and has ‘a lot of interest’ in the Chargers’ [head coach] vacancy as well.”
As a result of the on-field success of both programs, both schools expect to profit financially in major ways, including a sizable increase in interest from top high school prospects to sustain the programs’ talent and potentially generate more wins and money for the universities. As top football programs in the world, many student-athletes of Washington and Michigan are due to make financial gains through relatively new sponsorships as permitted by altered NCAA guidelines. Also, according to many NFL Draft experts, anywhere between 10-16 players will likely declare for the 2024 Draft and be signed by professional teams this spring. These players include Penix Jr., Corum, Sainristil, Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze, Washington edge rusher Bralen Trice, Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy, and Washington offensive lineman Troy Fautanu. The future seems bright for the national champions and even the runners-up.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.