Michigan Wolverines are the 2024 College Football Playoff National Champions after defeating the Washington Huskies 34-31 in a thrilling game at NRG Stadium in Houston on Monday night.
The Wolverines led 17-10 at halftime, thanks to a dominant performance by their defense and a pair of touchdown passes by quarterback J.J. McCarthy. The Huskies, however, did not give up and mounted a comeback in the second half, led by their star quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who threw for 420 yards and two touchdowns.
Washington tied the game at 24-24 with a 75-yard touchdown pass from Penix to Jalen McMillan early in the fourth quarter, and took their first lead of the game with a 42-yard field goal by Peyton Henry with 6:12 left in the game.
Michigan responded with a 10-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a 4-yard touchdown run by Hassan Haskins, who finished with 112 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries. The Wolverines regained the lead at 31-27 with 2:23 remaining.
The Huskies had one last chance to win the game, but Penix was intercepted by Daxton Hill at the Michigan 40-yard line with 1:07 left. The Wolverines then ran out the clock with a 29-yard run by Blake Corum on third-and-10, sealing their first national title since 1997.
McCarthy completed 18 of 25 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns, with no interceptions. He also ran for 36 yards on six carries. His favorite target was Roman Wilson, who caught six passes for 102 yards and a touchdown.
Penix was 28 of 42 for 420 yards and two touchdowns, with one interception. He also ran for 28 yards on eight carries. McMillan had seven receptions for 165 yards and a touchdown, while Cade Orton had six catches for 87 yards and a touchdown.
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh praised his team for their resilience and determination, saying they “played with a lot of heart and a lot of grit”. He also congratulated Washington for their “outstanding season” and said they were “a very tough opponent”.
Washington coach Jimmy Lake said he was “proud of his team” for their “fight and effort”, but also “disappointed” with the outcome. He said they “made some mistakes” that “cost them the game”, but also “showed a lot of character” by “coming back from a deficit”.
The game was watched by an estimated 85,000 fans at NRG Stadium, and millions more on television. It was the first time that Michigan and Washington met in the CFP National Championship, and the second time that they faced each other in a bowl game. The first time was in the 1993 Rose Bowl, which Michigan won 38-31.