The day is finally upon us, as the undefeated Big Ten champions, the Michigan Wolverines (14-0), take on the undefeated Washington Huskies (14-0) in the College Football National Championship game. Who has the edge, and how do both teams compare?
Keys to Victory
Washington has had a superb season. Michael Penix Jr. can make a case for being the best player in the nation. For the second consecutive season, he surpassed the 4,500-yard mark, finishing with 4,648 yards and passing for 35 touchdowns with a 66.7% completion rate, along with three rushing touchdowns. Penix Jr. has a pair of 1,000-yard receivers who have been unstoppable all year long. Rome Odunze finished with 1,553 yards and 13 touchdowns, while Ja’Lynn Polk finished with 1,122 yards and nine touchdowns. Offensively, the Huskies are not just one-dimensional; their starting running back, Dillon Johnson, was a 1,000-yard rusher, finishing the year with 1,162 yards and 16 touchdowns. A key part of Washington’s success is that they have the best offensive line in the nation. The Huskies’ OL won the Joe Moore Award this year and has been able to stand toe-to-toe with teams that have recruited more talent, such as Oregon, USC, and Texas. For Washington to win, they need to match Michigan’s physicality, starting at the line of scrimmage. Unlike teams in the past like TCU, which have been overwhelmed by big, physical teams, Washington is not just flash with Penix Jr.; they have built a wall that has allowed their offense to be a multi-pronged monster.
For Michigan, it starts with their defense. The Wolverines have allowed FBS opponents to score just 9.5 points per game in the regular season, the best in the nation. They are stout on both the offensive and defensive lines and have a quarterback in J.J. McCarthy who does one thing that ensures winning football: he rarely turns the ball over. McCarthy finished the year with 2,851 passing yards, 22 touchdown passes, three rushing touchdowns, and only four interceptions thrown. Roman Wilson is McCarthy’s go-to wide receiver, with 735 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns on the year. McCarthy also relies heavily on his tight end, Colston Loveland, to move the chains in the middle of the field. Loveland had 42 receptions, second only to Wilson, amassing 585 yards and four touchdowns on the year. The heart and soul of the offense is the Wolverines’ running game, powered by star running back Blake Corum. Corum ran for 1,111 yards this year and 25 touchdowns. Overall, the Wolverines play dominant, physical football. They have a massive offensive line, and their strategy is to run down your throat until they break your team. The Huskies are known as a scoring machine, averaging more than 37 points per game on the year, but the Wolverines have also been offensive juggernauts, scoring 36 points per game.
X-Factors
The X-factor for the Huskies will be their ability to exploit the middle of the field. Michigan will try to make life difficult for Penix Jr., attempting to take away the deep shots where Penix Jr. is deadly, and will most likely test him with intermediate throws in the middle of the field. Penix Jr. will need to use his tight end and make accurate passes. This is why Jack Westover and Devin Culp might be the X-factors in this game. Both players combined for six touchdowns and 585 passing yards. If the Huskies are to win this game, Westover and Culp need to help spread the Michigan defense by making them pay when they sell out on the running game and send extra safety help to the wide receivers.
For Michigan, the big X-factor is the entire defensive line. Michigan’s line has accounted for 38 sacks this year, and they were able to pressure Jalen Milroe all game long, racking up six sacks against Alabama’s quarterback. Michigan cannot allow Penix Jr. to have all the time in the world and must make him uncomfortable. For the Wolverines, this is where the game will be won or lost, in their ability to stop the Huskies’ superstar quarterback.
Prediction
Overall, Michigan is the more complete team. They have elite lines on both sides of the ball and play mistake-free football, which is possibly the number one factor leading to winning in football. They are extremely well-balanced and do not have any weaknesses, as they can put up points in a variety of different ways. They are an extremely well-coached team, as Jim Harbaugh has been the best coach in the Big Ten for the past four years. My mind says Michigan will win this game. Yet, Michigan doesn’t have anyone like Michael Penix Jr. This generational college quarterback has a chance to be a very good pro in the NFL. He is also joined by Kalen DeBoer, possibly the brightest mind in college football, and someone who just does not lose. The Huskies have faced physical teams like Oregon and Texas and have been able to handle both. They have not looked small or overwhelmed, but on the contrary, they have played like they belonged. No one has yet found the formula to stop Penix Jr., and although I think Michigan’s defense is amazing, it will go up against the best offensive line in the nation. Like Vince Young, who led Texas to a national championship over a stacked USC team, Penix Jr. will lead the Huskies to a win over the favored Wolverines.”
Washington – 31
Michigan – 27
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