Since September, college football teams have fought for a good record and starting in December, the four highest-ranked teams battled for the national title. After the Sugar Bowl between the University of Washington and the University of Texas and the Rose Bowl between the University of Alabama and the University of Michigan, only Washington and Michigan remain. The championship game is set to take place on Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. central time. Both teams are currently undefeated with a record of 14-0 including both conference and non-conference games. Although their records are the same, their roads to the championship have not been.
Michigan’s Wolverines dealt with a cheating scandal that resulted in their coach, Jim Harbaugh, being suspended for three games, the last games of their regular season. He has since returned for the team’s postseason. The team was suspected of illegal sign stealing. Investigation of the issue has ceased and the case was dismissed in exchange for Harbaugh’s suspension. After the investigation’s closing, Michigan quarterback, J.J. McCarthy seemingly confirmed the team’s cheating by saying they needed to even the playing field after Ohio State stole their signs in 2019.
Even with a scandal, Michigan’s players seem to be unphased and continue to perform well. McCarthy has even been recognized as the “greatest quarterback in University of Michigan college football history” by Harbaugh and eventually Tom Brady. After Harbaugh’s statement was posted to Instagram by SportsCenter, Tom Brady, former University of Michigan quarterback, commented under the post “Go Blue!!! No Doubt!!!”.
Michigan had also made it to the semifinals the past two seasons (2021, 2022) but lost both games and hadn’t made it to the championship until this season.
In their regular season, with 13 wins, Michigan managed to only end three games winning by less than 10 points. On average, they won by 27.23 points. QB McCarthy had 2,851 passing yards, 22 passing touchdowns and four interceptions through the 2023 season.
According to current rankings, both teams only played against three ranked teams in their regular seasons, with Washington playing the University of Oregon twice. Michigan (No. 1 seed) played Penn State (#10), Ohio State (#7) and Iowa (#20). Washington (No. 2 seed) played Arizona (#14), Oregon State (#21) and Oregon (#8) twice.
On average, the Washington Huskies won by 14.08 in their 13 regular season wins. QB Michael Penix Jr. had 4,648 passing yards, 35 passing touchdowns and nine interceptions in the 2023 season.
University of Washington coach, Kalen DeBoer, was named the Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year Award, the Home Depot Coach of the Year, the FOX College Football’s AP Coach of the Year and more for 2023.
Penix Jr. was a nominee for the 2023 Heisman Trophy. Although he did not win, he received the second most votes for the award.
