Michigan defeats Washington 34-13 to clench College Football Playoff National Championship

 
Michigan defeats Washington 34-13 to clench College Football Playoff National Championship

Michigan’s punishing running game and swarming defense ended in a 34-13 victory over Washington in the College Football Playoff final at NRG Stadium in Houston on Monday night.

The game was billed as a battle between Michegan’s vaunted defense, ranked No. 1 in the nation, against Washigton’s Heisman Trophy-finalist Michael Penix Jr.

The Wolverines pressured Penix all night and forced two interceptions, while Michigan running backs Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards rushed for 134 and 104 yards, respectively, while each scoring two touchdowns.

“There are over 100 Michigan men that are on this team, in uniform tonight,” Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh said on the trophy presentation stage. “What they’ve done for the last 372 days is amazing. We’re champions, simply known as national champions.”

The victory capped a turbulent 15-0 season with Michigan accused of hatching a massive sign-stealing scheme which led to a brief suspension of Harbaugh late in the campaign.

Both Michigan and Washington are making debut appearances in the championship game in the playoff era. Michigan has made it to the semifinals the last two seasons.

The two teams have each earned national championships in years past but not since the Bowl Championship Series was formed in 1998, ushering in the era of an NCAA top-division football championship game.