The Washington Huskies ultimately came up short in winning the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship game against the top-seeded Michigan Wolverines, losing 34-13 on Monday evening, January 8 at the NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.
Michael Penix Jr. and Washington's potent offense were largely stifled by a formidable Michigan defense, resulting in the decisive defeat.
By neutralizing one of college football's most efficient offenses, the 15-0 Wolverines concluded their impeccable season with the program's first national championship of the 21st century, securing their first title since 1997.
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3 Reasons Washington Huskies Lost to Michigan Wolverines
1. Uncharacteristic mistakes by the Huskies.
Throughout the entire season, Huskies quarterback Michael Penix Jr. demonstrated remarkable performance. However, in the national championship game, both the 2023 Heisman Trophy runner up and the team collectively struggled.
In his last college game, Penix concluded with a 27-of-51 passing performance, amassing 255 yards, including one touchdown and two interceptions.
The game also witnessed uncharacteristic drops and inaccurate throws. A critical moment occurred with 10:27 left in the first half when Rome Odunze, Washington's standout wide receiver, found himself wide open and in a scoring position.
However, Penix Jr. overthrew him on a daring fourth-and-seven play, a missed opportunity that the Huskies urgently needed to shift the momentum in their favor.
2. Washingtons's offense imploded.
Following the missed opportunity to regain momentum, Washington's offense subsequently faltered and struggled to regain its footing. Under increased pressure unlike before, Penix began forcing plays as Washington's situation worsened.
Trailing 27-13 in the fourth quarter, he made another critical error, throwing his second interception of the game in what was only his second multi-interception game of the season.
"We just couldn't make that one play here, and when we did, a penalty, maybe bringing the play back, a holding call, things like that. We just couldn't get over the hump. We couldn't finish the drive the way that we're used to," Penix said after the game.
3. Michigan's game plan executed early and perfectly.
Michigan's game plan was no secret, which was a heavy focus on running the ball. The Wolverines executed this plan effectively, accumulating over 300 rushing yards, surpassing the Huskies' season-high allowed by 100 yards.
The Huskies faced a challenging first quarter, conceding multiple significant runs that quickly left them trailing by 11 points.
Michigan running back Donovan Edwards scored a 41-yard touchdown on the opening drive, followed by a 46-yard touchdown run, extending their lead to 14-3.
By the end of the first quarter, Michigan had already gained 174 rushing yards, exceeding the Huskies' average allowed in an entire game.
Both Blake Corum and Edwards achieved over 100 yards rushing, marking the first time that it happened in the ten year history of the CFP national championship game.
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