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The 2023 college football season boils down to this: No. 1 Michigan vs. No. 2 Washington in the College Football Playoff championship game.
The Wolverines (14-0, 9-0 in Big Ten play) and Huskies (14-0, 9-0 Pac-12) are clearly the best teams in college football, and not just because of their ranking among the top both, but also because of the fact that they are the only remaining undefeated teams in the FBS.
After Monday's game, only one team will have this distinction.
MORE: Watch Michigan vs. Washington in the CFP Championship live with Fubo (Free Trial)
Despite their historic conference affiliation in the Big Ten and Pac-12, respectively, Michigan and Washington's CFP championship game will not be played in the historic Rose Bowl, where the Wolverines defeated No. 4 Alabama 27-20 in overtime to advance to the CFP title game . Instead, the teams will meet at NRG Stadium in Houston.
Jim Harbaugh and Co. will look to employ the same defensive strategy that has carried the Crimson Tide to a season-low 288 yards of offense. Whether the unit will have the same success against Washington's Joe Moore Award-winning line and Heisman Trophy runner-up Michael Penix Jr. remains to be seen. On offense, look for the Wolverines' JJ McCarthy to continue making plays in key areas while Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards continue to pave the way for the Wolverines' running game.
[ MUST LISTEN: Make “Hail Yes!” your go-to Michigan Wolverines podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) ]
Either way, either Michigan or Washington will be hoping for a historic victory on Monday: A Wolverines win would mean the program's first championship since 1997 and its first undisputed title since 1948. Likewise, a win for Washington would mark the program's first title since a shared championship in 1991. The only other title the Huskies won was in 1960, when the Athletic Association of Western Universities (AAWU) defeated the Athletic Association of Western Universities (AAWU) after a Rose Bowl victory Minnesota won 10-1.
Here's everything you need to know about the game, including time, date, TV and streaming information and more:
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What channel is Michigan vs. Washington on today?
The main broadcast of Michigan vs. Washington will air live on ESPN from NRG Stadium in Houston. Broadcast team Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit will be in the booth, while Holly Rowe (Michigan) and Molly McGrath (Washington) will serve as sideline reporters. Bill Lemonnier will serve as ESPN's rules analyst.
Other TV broadcast options include:
- ESPN2: Field Pass with “The Pat McAfee Show”
- ESPNU: Command Center (Four main video feeds, including the main ESPN broadcast, Skycam, and footage of each head coach throughout the broadcast)
- ESPNEWS: SkyCast
- ESPN Sports: Spanish language television show
ESPN's Megacast also offers options for hometown radio, All-22 broadcast and more through the ESPN app. Streaming options for the game include the ESPN app (with cable login) and Fubo, which offers a free trial to potential subscribers.
Michigan vs. Washington start time
- Date: Monday, January 8th
- Time: 7:30 p.m. ET
The Wolverines and Huskies will kick off their CFP semifinal game at 7:30 p.m. ET at NRG Stadium in Houston.
Michigan vs. Washington betting odds
Odds courtesy of BetMGM, Monday morning.
- Spread: Michigan (-4.5)
- Over under: 56.5 points
- Money line: Michigan -210 | Washington +170
2023 Michigan football schedule
| Date | Opponent |
| Saturday September 2nd | Michigan 30, 3 ECUs |
| Saturday September 9th | Michigan 35, UNLV 7 |
| Saturday September 16th | Michigan 31BGSU 6 |
| Saturday September 23rd | Michigan 31Rutgers 7* |
| Saturday September 30th | Michigan 45, Nebraska 7* |
| Saturday, October 7th | Michigan 52Minnesota 10* |
| Saturday, October 14th | Michigan 52, Indiana 7* |
| Saturday, October 21st | Michigan 49, Michigan State 0* |
| Saturday, October 28th | BYE |
| Saturday November 4th | Michigan 41Purdue 13* |
| Saturday November 11th | Michigan 24No. 10 Penn State 15* |
| Saturday November 18th | Michigan 31, Maryland 24* |
| Saturday November 25th | Michigan 30No. 2 Ohio State 24 |
| Saturday December 2nd | Michigan 26No. 16 Iowa 0** |
| Monday, January 1st | Michigan 27No. 4 Alabama 20 (OT) (Rose Bowl) |
| Monday, January 1st | vs. No. 2 Washington (CFP Championship Game) |
*Big Ten Game**Big Ten Championship
Washington football schedule 2023
| Date | Opponent |
| Saturday September 2nd | Washington 56Boise State 19 |
| Saturday September 9th | Washington 43Tulsa 10 |
| Saturday September 16th | Washington 41Michigan State 7 |
| Saturday September 23rd | Washington 59Cal 32 * |
| Saturday September 30th | Washington 31Arizona 24* |
| Saturday, October 7th | BYE |
| Saturday, October 14th | Washington 36No. 8 Oregon 33* |
| Saturday, October 21st | Washington 15Arizona State 7* |
| Saturday, October 28th | Washington 42Stanford 33* |
| Saturday November 4th | Washington 52No. 20 USC 42* |
| Saturday November 11th | Washington 35No. 18 Utah 28* |
| Saturday November 18th | Washington 22, No. 11 Oregon State 20* |
| Saturday November 25th | Washington 24Washington State 21* |
| Friday, December 1st | Washington 34#5 Oregon 31** |
| Monday, January 1st | Washington 37, No. 3 Texas 31 (sugar bowl) |
| Monday, January 1st | vs. No. 1 Michigan (CFP Championship Game) |
Pac-12 Game*Pac-12 Championship**
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