CFP National Championship highlights: Michigan beats Washington for first title since '97

Michigan stuck to the plan, stayed disciplined and made big plays late in turning a tight game into a runaway. The Wolverines played stifling defense, limiting Washington to 2-of-14 on third down and holding their vaunted passing game to just 255 yards as they battered and bruised Heisman Trophy runner-up Michael Penix Jr. Running back Dillon Johnson, who was injured after his first carry, emerged as every bit of a tough runner on a team whose ground game is constantly overlooked, notching 33 yards and picking up several key first downs.

The passing totals for J.J. McCarthy, whom Jim Harbaugh has labeled as the greatest signal-caller to wear the uniform, were nothing eye-opening at 10-of-18 for 140 yards, but they didn't need to be. Team 144, as they are affectionately known, managed to squeeze the life out of the game.

Michigan 34, Washington 13, 3:37 4Q

GAME. SET. MATCH.

Washington was looking to drive down the field late in the fourth quarter, but Michigan senior Mike Sainristil stepped in front of Michael Penix's pass and picked it off. He returned it 81 yards, all the way down to the 8-yard line.

Michigan then needed just two plays to punch it in as Blake Corum scored on a 1-yard run with 3:37 remaining in the game to give the Wolverines a commanding 34-13 lead.

Michigan 27, Washington 13, 7:09 4Q

It felt like it was just a matter of time before Blake Corum was going to find the end zone.

Sure enough, the Wolverines' all-time leading scorer punched in a 12-yard rushing touchdown midway through the fourth quarter to put Michigan on top, 27-13.

With the touchdown run, both Corum and Donovan Edwards officially went over the 100-yard rushing mark in the game. It marks the first time in a CFP championship game that two rushers on the same team have topped the 100-yard mark.

Michigan 20, Washington 13, 3:33 3Q

Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy is known for his precision passing, but the Wolverines' junior signal-caller can make plays with his legs as well.

Leading 20-13 late in the third quarter, McCarthy dropped back to pass, dodged some pressure, and took off for an impressive 22-yard run to get the Wolverines out of trouble.

Well, well, well, the national title game is a seven-point affair with 15 minutes left. Massive credit has to be given to Washington’s defense, which has often carried its more well-known offense for much of the second and third quarters and hasn't allowed a completion longer than 16 yards. Michael Penix Jr. has just seemed off, but UW’s rush defense has been rallying to the ball and stuffing the running lanes which previously felt as wide as a truck.

Michigan 20, Washington 10, 11:55 3Q

After getting a late touchdown in the first half, the Huskies looked to carry that momentum into the second half, but Michael Penix Jr.'s first throw was picked off by Michigan's Will Johnson.

Making matters worse, it looked like Penix injured his ankle on the play.

Michigan was not able to add a touchdown, but James Turner did knock down a 38-yard field goal to extend Michigan's lead to 20-10.

Michigan 20, Washington 13, 8:58 3Q

Penix returned to the field and looked healthy, leading the Huskies on a seven-play, 47-yard drive, which concluded with a 45-yard field goal by Grady Gross to make it 20-13.

When Michigan played Alabama in the Rose Bowl, their third quarter was remarkably strange, as the Wolverines went from total control in Pasadena to on the verge of the game getting away from them in a very real way. That feeling the maize and blue felt at that time seemed to return during the second quarter of the national title game as the offense went away from the run — very unsuccessfully — and allowed Washington to get right back in this game by cutting the lead to one score.

Michael Penix Jr. was much sharper and continued to do a good job climbing up in the pocket, helping mount a 61-yard drive before finding Jalen McMillan in the back of the end zone. The Huskies get the ball back to start the second half, and you get the feeling that the Pac-12 champions have made the better adjustments to turn a potential runaway into a very intriguing final 30 minutes to determine the national championship.

Michigan 17, Washington 10, 0:42 2Q

The Huskies desperately needed a score before halftime, and that's exactly what they got.

Michael Penix Jr. led an 11-play, 61-yard drive that finished with a picture-perfect 3-yard touchdown strike to Jalen McMillian with just under a minute remaining in the first half, making it 17-10.

Michigan 17, Washington 3, 10:27 2Q

Washington had its chance to answer right back on a throw that Michael Penix Jr. rarely misses.

Trailing 17-3 early in the second quarter, All-American WR Rome Odunze found an opening in the Michigan defense, but Penix overshot him as the two superstars couldn't connect.

It was a missed chance for the Huskies, who could have made it a one-score game.

As FOX Sports college football writer Laken Litman pointed out, Penix looks a little off, as he didn't miss a throw like that in the Huskies' Sugar Bowl win over Texas.

Michigan 17, Washington 3, 13:28 2Q

Following back-to-back touchdown runs by Donovan Edwards, it looked like the Wolverines were going to strike again via the run game. Blake Corum broke off a huge 59-yard run to start the drive, but the Huskies' defense then stepped up and held Michigan to a field goal, making it 17-3.

Michigan 14, Washington 3

The first 15 minutes were not entirely all maize and blue, but it felt like it as Michigan averaged a robust 19.3 yards per carry — actually a tad more than they averaged per play (15.7) by the time they had to change ends. Donovan Edwards was the star of the show, doing to Washington what he did to Ohio State in 2022 by breaking out big play after big play on his way to the second- and third-longest touchdown runs (41 and 46) in CFP title game history.

Michigan 14, Washington 3, 2:23 1Q

Donovan Edwards is a man on a mission. The Wolverines' speedy running back broke off another huge touchdown run to give the Wolverines an early 14-3 lead.

As FOX Sports college football analyst RJ Young pointed out, Edwards hadn't had a true breakout game yet this season.

3:56 1Q: Washington made several big plays to help march down the field but they end up stalling in the red zone. Michael Penix Jr. did well stepping up and avoiding the rush — his pocket awareness is second to none at this level — but missed Rome Odunze for a touchdown. The Huskies settled for a field goal and it sure seems like the pace of the game favors the Wolverines at this point after the first quarter has nearly wrapped up with just two drives.

Michigan 7, Washington 0, 10:23 1Q

What a start for the Big Ten and Rose Bowl champions, who do exactly what many thought they would in the national championship game by marching right down the field 84 yards by leaning on their run game. Blake Corum, until he lost his helmet on a tackle, was the natural workhorse, but it was Donovan Edwards who found the end zone first by bouncing out of a mess at the line and rushing 41 yards up the sidelines to the end zone right over the College Football Playoff logo. The drive only took 4:42 off the clock but it felt like the first quarter was nearly over with the extremely slow pace that the Wolverines took.

After scoring on their opening drive, the Wolverines held Washington to a field goal on the Huskies' first offensive possession.

Grady Goss chipped in a 25-yarder to make it 7-3.