It’s a matchup between No. 1 Michigan and No. 2 Washington for the national title. Attack of the powerful and physically strong Wolverine vs. the high-powered Husky? So who will win? Carefully selected by our staff.
Nicole Auerbach: I’m sticking with the preseason pick, even though Washington’s shocking offense certainly gives me pause. But the Wolverines will win just like they did this year by dominating both lines of scrimmage, taking care of the football and trusting veterans JJ McCarthy and Blake Collum to step up in bright moments.
Jayna Bardar: I’m certainly nervous about the Huskies’ run defense, but I believe their offense will pick up the slack. Michigan has never faced an attack as equipped as Washington’s air attack. Washington’s offense maintains its Joe Moore Award-winning status, but Michael Penix Jr. and his guys will have too much catching up to do.
Matt Brown: Washington’s offense is going to test Michigan like no one else in the Big Ten has, but I picked Michigan in the preseason to win the national championship, so I felt like we should see it through to the end. Ta. The Wolverines have more experience, talent and a more complete team. They have the secondary to test Washington’s receivers and the patience to play keep-away with a physical running game. We’re going to limit possession against Michigan and win by a touchdown.
Richard Deitsch: Let me digress a bit from my colleague and make two predictions. The University of Michigan’s front seven will ultimately be the difference-maker in the final stages of what should be a great and heated game: 34-27 Wolverines. The second prophecy? The title game will have the highest number of viewers since 2017, significantly surpassing last year’s huge TCU in Georgia (17.2 million viewers). Blame me for 26 million viewers.
Terry Dwyer: This Washington team is more than similar to the C.J. Stroud-led Ohio State teams of 2021 and 2022, with Michigan also limiting big plays and favoring defensive runs in high-leverage situations. He hopes to force red zone stops and repeat his success in those games. Control the ball with a balanced run/pass attack.
Tyler Halston: Michigan slowed the pace of the game with a ground-and-pound approach, which was successful, but Washington would jump out to a seven-point lead or more and Michigan would not be able to keep up with the pace. Washington finishes with a perfect season, giving the Pac-12 a proper sendoff, and Penix making fun of Heisman voters.
Chris Kamrani: Talk about a clash of styles. Michigan would be happy to give the ball to Colm 30 times in this game if it means limiting Washington’s offensive possessions. Ultimately, it will come down to how often Michigan’s vaunted defensive line puts Penix in trouble. I always tend to go with teams that have a good QB and offensive line, so I’m going with Washington.
Mitch Wright: The Huskies have Penix, the Wolverines don’t, so I support Washington. He does a lot of things well, but perhaps the most important is his ability to avoid sacks, with the help of his offensive line, of course. Michigan sacked Alabama’s Jalen Milroe six times for a loss of 49 yards in the Rose Bowl. That won’t happen against Washington.
Stewart Mandel: The match with Penix is over. He’s the Joe Burrow of the 2023 season. The Texans have been able to put pressure on the QB all season, but they couldn’t get close to him. Michigan has an even better pass rush, as it showed against Alabama, but the Huskies only allowed sacks on 2 percent of their pass attempts. The Wolverines can run the ball, and so could Texas. And if it turns into a shootout, I don’t know if McCarthy can keep up.
Austin Meek: Washington allowed more than six yards per carry against Oregon in the Pac-12 Championship Game and against Texas in the Sugar Bowl. In Colm’s final game in a University of Michigan uniform, the Wolverines should feed off their star running back and ride the player who took them to the national championship game. Penix and Washington’s receiving corps will be a big challenge for the Michigan defense, which was able to contain Milroe in the Rose Bowl. Penix is by far the purest passer Michigan has faced this year, but Michigan’s defense is up to the task as well.
Grace Rayner: These types of games are all about college football’s best players making their mark and putting the finishing touches on their legacies when the stakes are the highest. Penix is one of the best quarterbacks in the country. His wide receivers are elite. The Huskies’ offense was built for this moment, and something tells us Penix will save the best for last.
Joe Rexroad: Washington’s offense will prove to be less conceding and more problematic than Michigan’s at Texas, but I still think Penix and his receivers could slide into Sunday’s game and play a role everywhere. , likes to make big plays and score points. I don’t see how Washington is stopping Michigan. Colm showed he’s one of the best players in college football at the Rose Bowl, where he played more than 150 games as the University of Michigan won its first undisputed national championship since 1948. it is written like this.
Pete Sampson: As a Midwesterner, I don’t like it when good line play is the difference, but Michigan has it in excess. But Washington’s passing game with Penix and its three top receivers is a cheat code (it’s actually legal) that will put the Huskies on top.
Mitch Sherman: I can’t shake the belief that the Wolverines overcame their toughest matchup in the semifinals. Washington has a better offense than Alabama. When Penix rides a winning streak like he did midway through the win against Texas, he and his receivers are unstoppable. However, Michigan is different from what we saw from the Huskies, as they heat up their QBs with their pass rush. And Washington believes the run game is limited unless Dillon Johnson is at his best. Corum offers a difference.
Daniel Shirley: I was torn. It feels dirty to choose Michigan to win it all before the season and then change your choice so late in the game. But I found myself drawn to Penix and the dynamic wide receiver for the first time in a while. Washington’s dynamic and high-powered attack was matched by a physical and powerful Michigan team. And a lot of times I end up going with teams that have better quarterbacks.
Audrey Snyder: You will get good results. Penix will undoubtedly have moments as an outstanding quarterback, and one of the best athletes in the sport will do his best to spread the ball around as usual. But Michigan’s defense, especially the pass rush, is why I choose the Wolverines. They could put pressure on Penix and come up with a takeaway or two that could prove the difference.
Jesse Temple: Washington had a great season, but I couldn’t have been more impressed with the way the Huskies handled a one-possession game. The past five wins have come by a touchdown or less. However, the University of Michigan is likely to find a way out in a close game, backed by a strong defense that leads the FBS in scoring defense and total defense. McCarthy, Colm and the staff will have enough offense to give Michigan its first national championship since 1997.
David Ubben: This year’s Huskies are more composed in close games, with position players with offensive skills making the difference and enough prowess on the line to pull off an upset. The quarterback often decides these games. Alabama was no different. Ohio State was no different. Washington’s passing game is in a different stratosphere compared to those two.
Chris Vanini: This game will hinge on Washington’s ability to run the ball well enough to keep Michigan’s defense honest. UW doesn’t run the ball much, but they do it pretty well. Huskies running back Dillon Johnson is also expected to play, but likely won’t be 100 percent after re-aggravating his foot injury against Texas. My prediction is that Michael Penix Jr. won’t be able to play as well as he did against Texas because it will make him less effective and allow Michigan to play more coverage defense. The Wolverines will likely win in a close game.
Justin Williams: Penix and Washington’s receivers can cause a secondary flare-up for Michigan, and they impressed with the Huskies’ physical play in both wins against Oregon. But the Wolverines are a different kind of savage. Michigan’s defensive line will be able to do enough to disrupt Penix, help the back end, carve out time for the Wolverines’ running game, and stifle the Huskies’ offense.
(Photo of Michael Penix Jr. and JJ McCarthy: Sarah Diggins and Trevor Ruszkowski/USA Today)
