NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!
GAME 15 PROJECTION vs. RESULTS
Final Score: 34-13, Michigan by 21 over Washington
SP+ Projection: Michigan by 12.3 (+8.7)
CD Projection: Michigan by 7 (+14)
FIVE FACTORS
GAME 15 CFP FINAL RECAP vs. Washington
With the National Championship on the line, the Michigan offense stayed true to their identity and mashed the Washington Huskies on the ground for 303 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns. The Wolverines rocketed out of the gate with two long touchdown runs from Donovan Edwards in the first quarter, one that covered 41 yards and the other from 46 yards out. When James Turner added a field goal on Michigan’s third drive to go up 17-3 early in the second quarter, fans felt this could turn into a blowout.
But, that story did not come to be. Over the next seven drives in the second and third quarters, the Wolverines managed just one additional field goal on a short field drive, set up by the defense. JJ McCarthy never quite got into rhythm, and finished 10-18 for 140 yards passing and no touchdowns. But, McCarthy was the spark that ignited the finishing flurry for Michigan. His 22-yard scramble from near his own goal line allowed the Wolverines to flip the field position. On their second possession of the fourth quarter, up by just seven points, JJ threw a strike to Coleston Loveland over the middle for a 41 yard backbreaker. Two plays later, Blake Corum juked his way into the endzone for a 12-yard touchdown. That 14-point lead felt insurmountable with just seven minutes remaining, and it was fitting for Corum to cap it off as the heartbeat of this offensive unit.
The CFP Final game narrative fits perfectly atop the 2023 season, because the star of the show was the Michigan defense. In the premier strength-on-strength matchup for all the marbles versus Kalen DeBoer, Ryan Grubb, and an NFL-level offensive unit for the Huskies, defensive coordinator Jesse Minter reigned supreme. Heisman runner-up Michael Penix was battered by the time the clock hit zero. He finished 27-51 for 255 yards, a touchdown, and two interceptions. This is on the heels of a 430-yard, two touchdown performance the week before in the semifinals.
The defensive line proved the depth development strategy employed by Michigan in 2023 was indeed brilliant. All seven rotational defensive lineman created pressure on Penix. Mason Graham finished as the statistical leader with three tackles, and Kenneth Grant added a sack. That pressure, paired with a physical game plan from the Michigan defensive backs, yielded two interceptions at critical moments. The first interception by Will Johnson came on the opening possession of the second half and created the short field I mentioned before. The second interception was the coronation of the National Championship season: an 81-yard celebratory return by Mike Sainristil who, like Corum, embodied the perfect player to put an exclamation point on this perfect season.
The special teams unit eliminated the huge mistakes from the prior week in the Rose Bowl. Jay Harbaugh made a brilliant adjustment to the Washington punter’s low, line-drive style by utilizing two returners: one shallow and one deep. James Turner was very near the upright on a short field goal, and actually hit the upright on an extra point, but made all his kicks. And, punter Tommy Doman bounced back the best. His kicks carried an average of 47.6 yards, and a net of 43.6.
This team is the greatest team in the land, and cannot be disputed. They are forever National Champions. However, the word I will always associate with this team is unflappable. No force exists within a football stadium that could shake the 2023 Michigan Wolverines. That proved true again for the fifteenth time on Monday, January 8th, 2024. In my eyes, by realizing their year-long mission to win the title by defeating all comers, this is the greatest Michigan Football team in the 144-year history of the program. Don’t agree with such a lofty statement? Somehow they’ll show up and prove it again. Bet!
2023 SEASON RECAP
It felt shortsighted to just do a game recap after the season the Michigan Wolverines just completed. So, I want to layout briefly how I experienced this 2023 season, through a series of eight phases:
- Expectations
When Blake Corum, Zak Zinter, and the other upperclassmen decided to return for another season back in January of 2023, the championship foundation was preserved. However, the stakes were raised immediately when Blake Corum called his shot in front of a crowd at Crisler Arena, stating that this team would win a National Title and go down in history. There was no turning back, the boats had been burned.
- Happy Mission
Spring and summer were traditional from a program and media standpoint. There were a few questions about starting battles at offensive tackle and at the second cornerback spot, but Jim Harbaugh reiterated that his guys were embarking on a happy mission.
- Harbaugh Suspension #1
A negotiated settlement with the NCAA related to 2020 dead period violations fell through at the eleventh hour. Still, the Michigan administration self-imposed a three-game suspension on Jim Harbaugh and four different assistants received an opportunity to add head coach responsibilities on game day. Developing that depth would prove to be valuable.
- Big Ten Dominance
When Jim Harbaugh returned and the B1G Ten season started, the Wolverines showed they had at least another gear that they had not shown through the first four games. Back-to-back road blowouts over Nebraska and Minnesota silenced a handful of doubters who thought Michigan looked unimpressive early in the season.
- Connor Stalions & Media Chaos
A media firestorm exploded when news leaked regarding support staffer Connor Stalions leading an in-person scouting operation that skirted various NCAA regulations. The news was timed and targeted to maximize the amplitude of the chaos, and triggered a chorus of complaints from B1G Ten coaches and administrators to new conference commissioner Tony Petitti.
- Harbaugh Suspension #2
Tony Petitti acquiesced to the complaints and determined he would suspend Jim Harbaugh midseason for three more games. Petitti also maximized the potential damage for targeting the three toughest games on the schedule, including The Game versus Ohio State. The final salt in the wound was the timing & delivery of the announcement. The commissioner waited until the team was in flight en route to the Penn State road game, and the Michigan contingent found out via social media.
- #Bet (Savage Warrior),
In response to a failed appeal for injunction in a Washtenaw County court, the administration, the team, and the fan base was incensed with the B1G Ten conference. Many hot takes were created and fired into the media environment, but the Michigan community rallied around a viral tweet sent by the players and echoed by even university president Santa Ono: Bet. The one-word rallying cry was a call to fight by saying less and doing more. The Wolverines were determined to let their actions speak. The happy mission had transformed into one taken on by savage warriors.
- Confirmation & Coronation
Through all the distraction, and under the guidance of Sherrone Moore as interim head coach, the Michigan Wolverines executed a variety of game plans to continue their victorious march. Key injuries on both sides of the ball dictated how Michigan could attack the best defenses on their schedule. But, they made the key plays against Penn State, Maryland, Ohio State, Iowa, Alabama, and Washington. Over this stretch of games, the game narratives in my mind slowly shifted. It started from a place of fear that this team’s opportunity could be squandered in an epic “What If…” season. That narrative morphed to a confirmation that this team was good enough and tough enough that none of the outside forces mattered. None of the on-field foes mattered. The Rose Bowl semifinal and CFP final games were fitting coronations for the sport’s new kings.
THANK YOU
I’ll conclude with a thank you to Phil Callihan for the opportunity to contribute to the site, and for his support and flexibility that allowed me to experience this magical ride from the press box with him and his family, from home with my family, and through it all with our Michigan family. Also, thank you for reading, listening, following, and talking to us about this team.
It’s Great…to be…a Michigan Wolverine…because the ultimate team–the greatest Michigan team of all of all time!–finished their business and brought home the ultimate prize to Ann Arbor.
