Blake Corum ran for 134 yards and two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, and Jim Harbaugh and Michigan didn’t sit out the suspension and prepare for the season. Plans, undaunted by a sign-stealing case that cast a shadow, completed their three-year climb to the national title with a 34-13 victory over Washington in Monday night’s College Football Playoff championship game.
The Wolverines (15-0) clinched their first national title since 1997 when Colum scored the game-winning touchdown in overtime in the Rose Bowl semifinals with 3:37 remaining. A field goal from the one-yard line beat Alabama. Michigan State led by 21 points, setting off another exciting performance by the Victors.
After coaching his alma mater for nine seasons and making his third straight playoff appearance, Harbaugh won the championship many expected when he took over the struggling powerhouse in 2015 — despite missing six games this season. games in the regular season and experienced suspensions respectively.
He did it with a team beloved by his old coach Bo Schembechler. The Wolverines ran for 303 yards against Washington (14-1), whose defense held Michael Penix Jr. and the Huskies’ prolific passing game to just one touchdown while throwing two Heisman interceptions Cup runner-up.
Penix’s remarkable six-year college career ended with his worst performance of the season. Penix isn’t usually affected by pressure, but his passing wasn’t as precise against Michigan’s defense, which deprived him of his signature deep passes.
Penix went 27-of-51 for 255 yards and a touchdown.
Michigan’s JJ McCarthy had a mediocre performance, passing for 140 yards and running for 31 yards. But it was enough for him to improve his record to 27-1 as the Wolverines’ starter.
Michigan State gave Washington a taste of Big Ten life, where the Pac-12 champions will head next season and which the Huskies have been preparing for for some time.
Donovan Edwards’ two long touchdown runs and 229 yards rushing in the first quarter gave the Wolverines an early 17-3 lead in the second quarter, reminiscent of last year’s Georgia history Defeat TCU decisively.
Washington settled down and didn’t allow the Badgers another point in the first half. Penix went to work after the Huskies stopped Michigan on fourth-and-2 at the UW 38 with 4:46 left in the second quarter.
He found Jalen McMillan on a fourth-and-4 touchdown run for a three-yard touchdown with 42 seconds left. After nearly being buried by the Badgers, Husky fans sang along to “Who Let the Dogs Out” and trailed 17-10 at halftime.
Newsletter Promotion Post
Will Johnson’s interception of Penix on the first play of the second half gave Michigan another chance to open up a two-touchdown lead, but the Huskies forced James Turner ) shot again, chasing the score to 20-10.
Michigan maintained its touchdown lead until midway through the fourth quarter, when it totaled 71 yards rushing, culminating with Colum breaking a tackle for a 12-yard touchdown to finally give the Wolverines some space. , leading 27-13 with 7:09 left in the game.
Corum is the engine of the ground attack and the heart and soul of a team that has fourth-, fifth- and even sixth-year players, but missed the CFP last year with a knee injury. He was named offensive player of the national championship game.
“Michigan, this is for you,” Colum told Wolverines fans.
