The college football season finale pits two undefeated teams against each other on Monday night: No. 1 Michigan and No. 2 Washington. It is both teams' first appearance in the College Football Playoff Finals and their first appearance in a national championship game.
It will be the first time since the College Football Playoff's debut season in 2014 and just the second time since 2005 that the Bowl Subdivision championship game will not feature at least one SEC team. Instead, two current and future members of the Big Ten will face off tonight. This is the fourth time in playoff history that two undefeated teams will compete in the championship game.
USA TODAY Sports provides the latest updates, highlights, analysis and news throughout the day and throughout the game. Consequences.
What time does the national championship game start tonight?
Kickoff is Monday, January 8, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. ET.
How can I watch Michigan vs Washington?
You can watch or stream it on ESPN. Chris Fowler and Kirk Herbstreit on the phone; Holly Rowe and Molly McGrath on the sidelines and Bill Lemonnier as a rules analyst. In addition, ESPN will offer a variety of alternative broadcasts on its other channels: Field Pass with “The Pat McAfee Show” (ESPN2), Command Center (ESPNU), Skycast (ESPNews), Spanish Language (ESPN Deportes).
The Wolverines and Huskies play at NRG Stadium in Houston.
The best college football betting apps favor Michigan over Washington in the national championship game. According to BetMGM college football odds, the Wolverines are 5-point favorites over the Huskies. Would you like to bet? Check out the best mobile sports betting apps offering college football betting specials in 2023.
Michigan vs. Washington score predictions
Here's how USA TODAY Sports experts predict tonight's national championship:
- Scooby Axson: Washington 34, Michigan 24
- Jace Evans: Michigan 35, Washington 31
- Paul Myerberg: Michigan 27, Washington 23
- Erick Smith: Michigan 34, Washington 24
- Eddie Timanus: Washington 27, Michigan 21
- Dan Clouds: Michigan 27, Washington 21
According to BetMGM, the over-under for Washington against Michigan is 56.
According to BetMGM college football odds, the Wolverines are 5-point favorites over the Huskies.
Michigan is the money-line favorite at -220. Washington is now a +180 underdog according to BetMGM. If you are new to sports betting, don’t worry. Our college football betting guide can get you started. We also have tips for beginners on how to place a bet online. And USA TODAY readers can score exclusive promotions and bonus codes at these online sportsbooks and sports betting sites.
The 6-foot-1, 220-pound quarterback completed 342 of 576 passes (59.4%) for 4,197 yards, 29 touchdowns with 32 picks in four years at Indiana. He more than doubled that production in two seasons with Washington, where he completed 66% of his passes (698 of 1,058) for 9,289 yards, 66 TDs and 17 picks. In 2023 alone, Penix was 336 of 504 for 4,648 yards, 35 touchdowns and 9 interceptions.
The 6-foot-3, 202-pound quarterback has played in 39 games in three seasons for Michigan, completing 472 of 695 passes (.680) for 6,086 yards, 49 touchdowns and 11 picks. He also passed for 601 yards and 10 touchdowns on 157 carries. In 2023 alone, McCarthy completed 230 of 314 passes for 2,851 yards (203.6 yards per game), 22 touchdowns and four interceptions. He also managed 171 yards and three scores on 60 carries.
Jim Harbaugh began his coaching career in 1994 as an assistant coach at Western Kentucky under his father. He was still playing in the NFL at the time, but held both jobs until the 2001 season. He then made the transition to full-time coaching in 2002, becoming quarterbacks coach with the Oakland Raiders, a role he held for two seasons that included a Super Bowl victory. He went to Southern California to become head coach at the University of San Diego, where he spent three seasons (2004-06) before leading Stanford (2007-10) and the San Francisco 49ers (2011-14). He has been in Michigan since 2015.
After beating Alabama in the Rose Bowl, a reporter asked Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh the big question: “There is a lot of interest in your future; I was wondering if you could tell me what the chances are that the championship game could be your last at Michigan?”
Harbaugh danced away: “My future is a happy flight back to Ann Arbor, Michigan. I can barely wait for it.
Even though Harbaugh isn't talking, there are plenty of rumors about his return to the NFL. So the drumbeat is there; And if this is Harbaugh's last game, what will his legacy be at Michigan? Harbaugh didn't just bring Michigan back. He took the Wolverines to a new level. The Wolverines have a 39-3 record over the last three years. This team will finish in the top three for the third consecutive year – the greatest achievement in school history. —Jeff Seidel, Detroit Free Press
- University of San Diego (2004-06): 29-6
- Stanford (2007-10): 29-21 (.580)
- San Francisco 49ers (2011-14): 44-19-1 (.695), 5-3 (.625) in playoffs
- Michigan: 88-25 (.779)
Washington running back Dillon Johnson is scheduled to play tonight against Michigan, the team announced. Johnson was eliminated in the College Football Playoff semifinal against Texas, a painful foot injury leading to him being carted off the field. “It's just something he's been working on for a couple months now and just playing through it,” Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer said last Wednesday. There is nothing beyond what happened in the past. Throughout the game he kept tightening it up, shaking it off and going back out and playing.”
For fans of more than half of the NFL teams, it's already time to start thinking about that offseason staple: the NFL mock draft. The regular season ended on Sunday, meaning 18 franchises are already starting the 2024 season. Draft season is officially open and underway, the College Football Playoff title game is Monday night and the deadline for players to declare is January 15th. So far only the top 18 selections have been determined. But with a rough estimate of how the remaining slots might pan out, here's our latest NFL mock draft for 2024. — Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz
The Wolverines and Huskies have played 13 times since 1953. Michigan is ahead at 8-5.
The 5-foot-10, 200-pound senior running back had 3,603 rushing yards and 56 touchdowns in his four-year career at Michigan. In 2023 alone, he carried the ball 237 times for 1,111 yards and 25 touchdowns.
Michigan quarterback JJ McCarthy could be a first-round pick this spring, but could be the first quarterback cut from the roster if he delays the draft decision for another year, leaving the true junior a difficult one after the national championship decision must be made. He's agile, careful with the football and perhaps a little limited by the Wolverines' offensive scheme, so McCarthy could have the best ball in front of him. —Paul Myerberg
The 6-foot, 220-pound Washington senior caught 209 passes for 3,185 yards and 24 touchdowns in four seasons with the Huskies. In 2023 alone, he recorded 87 catches for 1,553 yards and 13 touchdowns.
A season-ending injury is disappointing; Two is heartbreaking. Incredibly, Michael Penix Jr. has had to overcome four wins in as many years with the Indiana Hoosiers, the last two coming just as his college career seemed to be taking off. Penix tore his ACL three games into his freshman season in 2018, sustaining the injury while splitting time with starter Peyton Ramsey in a narrow loss to Penn State. He injured his non-throwing shoulder in nine games of the 2019 season, with Indiana going 7-2, the Hoosiers' highest win total since 2007.
He made a name for himself during the COVID-19 season, throwing 14 touchdowns in five games before suffering another ACL tear in a win against Maryland. And he suffered another shoulder injury five games into the 2021 season that led to Penix and Indiana finishing winless in Big Ten play.
“Yeah, man, those times were tough, but it just showed that I can get through anything. I can persevere and overcome any difficulties that come my way,” Penix said. “But I just feel very blessed to be in this position now. I wouldn't change anything I've been through for anything. I feel like it made me the player and person I am today.” — Paul Myerberg
Kalen DeBoer has four seasons of head coaching experience – two at Fresno State before joining Washington in 2022 – and has compiled a record of 37-8 (.822) during that time.
Kalen DeBoer is in his second season with Washington and earned $4.2 million in 2023 with a maximum bonus of $1.25 million, according to USA TODAY Sports' database of college football salaries. trainers. In 2022, he earned $3,100,008 with a maximum bonus of $1.175 million.
Behind legendary coach Don James and after Washington's 34-14 win over Michigan in the 1991 Rose Bowl, the Coaches' Poll (then conducted jointly by USA TODAY and CNN) named the Huskies national champions. The Associated Press poll, however, picked the Miami Hurricanes as the No. 1 team, while the Huskies came in at No. 2. Miami also finished 12-0 this season, ending with a 22-0 victory over Nebraska in the Orange Bowl. That's why Miami won the national championship in 1991. Some consider the 1991 Washington team to be one of the best college football teams of all time. —Lindsay Quick
It has been nearly 25 years since Michigan last won a national championship, most recently in 1997. Michigan also won the majority of its national championship before the election era, which began in 1936. – Jordan Mendoza
The Huskies and Wolverines last played on September 11, 2021. Michigan won 31-10.
According to the NCAA, the Wolverines have titles in 1901, 1902, 1903, 1904, 1918, 1923, 1933, 1948, 1997. Michigan says it also won titles in 1932 and 1947. – Jordan Mendoza
Senior running back Dillon Johnson is playing his only season with Washington after transferring from Mississippi State. With the Huskies, he rushed for 1,162 yards and 16 touchdowns on 222 carries. In his three seasons with the Bulldogs, he played in 35 games and rushed for 1,198 yards and 11 touchdowns on 229 carries.
The only constant in Washington's victories is the play of quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who had a classic playoff performance with 430 yards and two touchdowns in the Rose Bowl against Texas. Like Penix, so is Washington. He was a “special person,” said All-America wide receiver Rome Odunze. The first key question behind the championship game: Can Michigan slow Penix, or is that even possible?
The Wolverines have never faced a quarterback like Penix or a group of receivers close to Washington's caliber. Of Michigan's 14 opponents, only two, Maryland and Ohio State, rank above 55th nationally in passing yards per game. These two teams combined for 518 passing yards at 8.5 yards per attempt, although Michigan forced four interceptions against two touchdowns.
Although Michigan faced Ohio State's Marvin Harrison, who may be the best individual player in college football this season regardless of position, the Wolverines are backed by Rome Odunze, Ja'Lynn Polk, Jalen McMillan and the Huskies' extreme depth at receiver put to the test. And the person passing the passes will be Penix, not Kyle McCord. —Paul Myerberg
The Huskies have two (1960 and 1991), but it kind of depends on who you ask. In 1960, Washington was named national champion by the Helms Athletic Foundation after defeating Minnesota 17-7 in the Rose Bowl and finishing with a 10-1 record. When the Helms Foundation finally disbanded in 1969, many of its archives went to the Amateur Athletic Union. Want to know something even stranger about the 1960 national championship? The Huskies didn't claim it until 2007 – and then they had a trophy made for it. —Lindsay Quick
The most important factor in deciding the national championship may be: Which team can control the flow of the game on offense? Michigan will be tough to beat if it runs the ball effectively on first downs and mounts the kind of sustained attacks that would wear down the Huskies' defense. If Washington were able to level the playing field and divide the wealth among three of four receivers, Washington could give Michigan nightmarish memories of the humiliating loss to the Horned Frogs.
“Yeah, I think the aggressiveness is exactly what we are,” Washington coach Kalen DeBoer said.
Don't expect either team to shy away from the challenge. If there was ever any doubt, Michigan's physical and mental strength was solidified by the overtime win against the Crimson Tide. Washington's strength was on display throughout the season, which was marked by narrow one-possession victories. Which team is blinking? Read Paul Myerberg's full preview here.
Here's a look:
Louis Elbel wrote “The Victors” in 1898 as a music student in Michigan. Here are the main parts, the full text can be found here.
Hail! the brave victors
Hail! to the conquering heroes
Hail! Hail! to Michigan
the leaders and best
Hail! the brave victors
Hail! to the conquering heroes
Hail! Hail! to Michigan,
the champions of the west!