Two undefeated teams, two conference champions, two semifinal winners playing for one national championship. The University of Washington, led by Michael Penix, Jr., and the University of Michigan, led by J.J. McCarthy, will head to NRG Stadium in Houston. The Huskies took down Texas in one of the best offensive showcases in the sport this season, winning 37-31. The Wolverines went to battle with Alabama, winning in overtime 27-20 by scoring a touchdown on their first drive with Blake Corum on a 17-yard run and Alabama couldn’t answer. Now, we will get a showdown between the best offense in the country against the best defense in the country. Let’s analyze each team separately before revealing the outcome.
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Washington Huskies: The Offensive Powerhouse
Washington has undeniably one of, if not the best offensive team in the country. Michael Penix Jr., who was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy, ended his season with 4,648 yards and 35 touchdowns with only nine interceptions through the air. The weapons at his disposal is nothing short of dynamic. The combination at receiver of Rome Odunze, Ja’lynn Polk, Jalen McMillan has to be the best. The three of them finished with 201 receptions for 3,201 yards and 26 touchdowns. Oftentimes running back Dillon Johnson is overlooked. He took 222 carries for 1,162 yards and 16 touchdowns on the ground. He also caught 22 passes for 166 yards as well. In the Pac-12 Championship game against Oregon for the second time and against Texas in the Allstate Sugar Bowl, Washington scored over 30 points and 480 yards of total offense in both games.
Michigan Wolverines: The Defensive Prowess
Michigan, on the other hand, has one of, if not the best defenses in the country. The defense is led by linebacker Junior Colson. The junior from Brentwood, Tennessee, has 89 tackles on the season, which is 28 more than the next closest player. Jaylen Harrell and Josaiah Stewart hold down the ends of the defensive line. Harrell had 6.5 sacks to lead the team and Stewart follows with 5.5 of his own. Derrick Moore and Braiden McGregor also combine for 9.5 sacks between the two of them. While the defensive line is busy getting to the quarterback, Mike Sainristil and Will Johnson are busy holding down coverage. Sainristil has six passes defended with five interceptions this season. The last three games for this team has been against former No. 2 Ohio State, No. 16 Iowa, and No. 4 Alabama. No team scored more than 25 points in any of those games, and the Wolverines held Iowa scoreless in the Big Ten Championship game.
Outcome
If each team sticks to its strengths, it will come down to the opposite side of the ball and who can get more done. Michigan’s Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards are electric on the ground. Corum has run for 1,111 yards and 25 touchdowns this season. He will go up against a defensive line with projected first-round pick Bralen Trice on it. He finished the season with seven sacks and 28 solo tackles.
