The Michigan Wolverines are no strangers to the Washington Huskies in college football, though much has changed between these two programs since they last met back in 2002. This piece goes over their most recent matchups, team news and rumours from each program.
Recent Matchups
College Football Playoff National Championship
College Football Playoff National Championship, Michigan Wolverines vs. Washington Huskies When: Monday, Jan. 8, 2024 The result was a dominant 34-13 win for Michigan, who had not won a national title since the 1997 season. A lot of that was thanks to running back Blake Corum who rushed for 134 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns. Michigan wrapped up its 15-0 season this way, showing how good the Wolverines were all year long.
Regular Season Rematch
The teams played each other a third time on October 5, 2024, in Seattle at Husky Stadium during the regular season. Washington Huskies flipped the script from last year’s championship loss and topped Michigan, 27-17. Huskies quarterback Will Rogers completed 23 of 33 passes, picking apart Michigan’s secondary. Washington improved to 4-2 with the victory, while Michigan dropped to 4-2, which continued questions about its consistency on offense.
Team Developments
Coaching Changes
In 2024, both programs underwent major coaching changes. Michigan’s head coach Jim Harbaugh left for the Los Angeles Chargers post-national championship. When they elevated offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore to head coach in the hopes of keeping up that competitive spirit. There was also a transition in Washington Huskies, which lost head coach Kalen DeBoer to Alabama. The Huskies were handed over to Jedd Fisch, who previously coached at Arizona and had a new vision for the program.
Player Performances
Blake Corum is still a Michigan legend in the making. Still, on the other side of Oklahoma’s mouth would be a quarterback controversy after the Wolverines struggled with their passing attack. Jack Tuttle came in place of freshman Alex Orji and gave the game a temporary spark, only for Michigan to still fall to Washington Huskies. Michigan has battled inconsistent play along the offensive front and breakdowns on defence.
With Will Rogers at the heart of it, Washington’s offence has been explosive it’s averaging almost 500 yards per game. The victories immediately before the trip including a statement win over Michigan have made the Washington Huskies tougher than they appeared after early-season losses. The defence has also risen to the occasion, making plays after turnovers and not allowing teams to come back late into a contest.
Latest News
Michigan’s Season Outlook
Michigan fell to No. 24 in the AP Top 25 after losing at Washington Huskies two weeks ago. They will have a bye this week to work on their offensive woes and try to figure out the inconsistencies they had on the defensive end of the floor. They have Illinois, Oregon, Indiana and Ohio State on the horizon which will be critical in figuring out whether or not they can play postseason games. Win totals have not been so kind, with a 7-5 season projected. But the team believes a change is coming — and Tuttle exists.
Washington’s Momentum
The program is getting a new life due to Washington’s win over Michigan. The Huskies have already shown they can play with the big boys, and it has been a combination of both sides of the ball that has gotten them on this recent run. Jedd Fisch and the rest of the coaching staff have their eye on building off this to get through the rest of the season. Their next couple of matchups will be the true test for consistency and resilience but this team feels good about where they are headed.
