It was rollercoaster ride of a season the Michigan Wolverines. But in the end, their “Michigan vs. Everybody” mentality became a rallying cry that helped them overcome suspensions, extreme media scrutiny, and allegations of impropriety which followed them all year long.
The Wolverines capped off a perfect 15-0 season with a 34-13 victory over the previously unbeaten Washington Huskies Monday night. Michigan got off to a fast start, forcing Washington to play from behind all night long.
Heisman finalist Michael Penix Jr. was largely held in check, completing just 27 of 51 passes for 255 yards, 1 TD and 2 interceptions, while rushing for -5 yards on the ground. Receiver Rome Odunze who terrorized opposing defenders all season long hauled in 5 passes for 87 yards, and the Huskies defense only managed 1 sack on the night, as a relentless Michigan ground game wouldn’t be denied.
For his part, Wolverines QB JJ McCarthy did what he had to do. He completed 10 of 18 passes for 140 yards, 0 TDs, and 0 INTs at NRG Stadium in Houston. The 20 year old signal caller added 31 yards on 4 carries on the ground for good measure.
But the real heroes of the night were Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards, who broke off huge runs at various points, and tired out Washington’s defense with their unrelenting ground game. Corum totalled 21 carries for 134 yards and 2 scores, while Edwards averaged 17.3 yards per carry, on 6 carries for 104 yards and 2 TDs himself. Corum would earn the CFP Offensive MVP for his efforts.
No Wolverine’s receiver had more than 3 catches on the night, as Colston Loveland led the way with 64 yards on 3 receptions. Instead it was Michigan’s 303 rushing yards, and two interceptions that did most of the heavy lifting Monday night. The Wolverines averaged 7.8 yards per play and made the most of their 57 total offensive snaps.
Despite being only 1 for 10 on third down and 0 for 1 on 4th down on the night, Michigan managed to keep the chains moving with 16 first downs due in large part to their dynamic backfield duo. When all was said and done the Wolverines outgained the Huskies 443 to 301, and won the turnover battle 2 to 0.
For a game which saw Michigan rely so heavily on their ground game, Washington actually won the time of possession battle 30:44 to 29:16, and had more total plays than their counterparts (71 to 57). However costly turnovers and a failure to capitalize on their opportunities left them empty handed when the final whistle blew.
“They’re a good team,” Penix Jr. said following the loss. “We just didn’t execute in the moments when we needed to. It’s just about executing. I don’t feel like they did anything. I feel like we beat ourselves.”
In his team’s postgame media availability, John Harbaugh defended his players stating several times that they were found “innocent” of any kind of wrong doing despite investigations from both the Big 10 and NCAA over allegations of sign stealing. Harbaugh would ultimately sit out 6 games this season for league imposed suspensions, though the team itself was cleared of any wrong doing.
When questions turned to what the future held for the former Wolverines QB turned coach, Harbaugh was quick to avoid giving any direct answers, opting for humour instead. “For me personally, I can now sit at the big person’s table in the family. They won’t keep me over there on the little table anymore. My dad, Jack Harbaugh, won a national championship and my brother won a Super Bowl. It’s good to be at the big person’s table from now on.”
With a national championship now on his resume, football insiders believe that Coach Harbaugh could make a return to the NFL ranks. While the 60 year old wouldn’t confirm or deny rumours that he may once again coach at the professional level, if he were to return to the NFL, he would instantly become one of the most sought after candidates on the market.
Washington, Carolina, Tennessee, Atlanta, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles all currently have vacancies, with the thought being that teams are waiting on Harbaugh’s decision before making any concrete next steps with potential hires.
With multiple starters expected to now declare for the NFL Draft in the spring, Michigan has opened with the 4th best odds of winning the 2024 national championship at most major sports books trailing Georgia, Alabama, and Ohio State.
QB JJ McCarthy, RB Blake Corum, RB Donovan Edwards, S Rod Moore, T LaDarius Henderson, G Zak Zinter, and DL Kris Jenkins are all expected to declare for the draft now that their season is over. However as many as 16 other Seniors, Graduate Students and Juniors could also throw their names into the draft process. While Georgia’s 2022 draft class currently holds the record for most players selected in a single Draft Year with 15, Michigan could flirt with the magic number of 10 this year, with several players being potential 1st or 2nd rounders.
Photo: Maize & Blue Nation. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.