M-PRESSIVE: Michigan takes national title with 34-13 win over Washington

Houston — It had always been about the seniors, the core of leaders who came back for one more season, one more shot at “natty-or-bust” as running back Blake Corum pledged last season.

Top-ranked Michigan (15-0) won the national championship Monday night before 72,808 at NRG Stadium, defeating Washington, 34-13. Corum scored two fourth-quarter touchdowns and defensive back Mike Sainristil made his sixth interception of the season to help seal the victory.

Corum finished with 133 yards and two touchdowns and running back Donovan Edwards added 104 yards and two first-quarter two touchdowns, becoming the first duo in CFP history to rush for more than 100 yards apiece.

BOX SCORE:Michigan 34, Washington 13

“I could not be prouder or happier of our team, 15-0,” Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh said. “Took on all comers. Last one standing. It's a great feeling. For me, personally, I can now sit at the big-person's table in the family. They won't keep me over there on the little table anymore. My dad, Jack Harbaugh, won a national championship (Western Kentucky) and my brother (John) won a Super Bowl. It's good to be at the big-person's table from now on.”

It was difficult in the aftermath, with maize and blue confetti and gold streamers flying, for the players to process what they had just accomplished. Michigan offensive coordinator/offensive line coach Sherrone Moore did not waste words describing this team.

“Greatest Michigan team to ever play,” Moore said.

The buildup for this game from Michigan’s side had been unparalleled for a fan base that hasn’t reached these heights in more than two and half decades, when Michigan won the AP national championship in 1997. The Wolverines were trying to join the big-person’s table the last few years. They finally defeated Ohio State, snapping an eight-game losing streak to their rivals, in 2021. It was the first of three straight wins against the Buckeyes, and Michigan went on to win three straight Big Ten titles and make three straight College Football Playoff berths.

This was the first time the Wolverines had made the championship game in the CFP format, which began in 2014, defeating No. 4 Alabama, 27-20, in overtime in the Rose Bowl a week ago.

“It means the world,” Michigan linebacker Michael Barrett said of winning the title. “All the nights I’ve dreamed of the moment, all the nights as a kid that I watched this game and to finally be here my last game and to bring this back to Ann Arbor, it means the world.”

It meant the world to Michigan’s top-rated defense to handle the test provided by Washington’s explosive, top-rated passing offense, led by Heisman Trophy runner-up Michael Penix Jr. Penix entered the game averaging 350 passing yards per game, but against the Wolverines, he was 27-of-51 for 255 yards and had one touchdown but two interceptions and took one sack from Kenneth Grant.

Michigan started strong in the first quarter, accumulating 229 yards, including 174 rushing. Donovan Edwards gave the Wolverines, who never trailed, a 7-0 lead with a 41-yard touchdown run and added another big run, this time from 46 yards, with 2:23 left in the first quarter. In the final play just before the second quarter, Corum had a 59-yard run.

This has been a season of struggles for Edwards, who finished the 2022 season on a high, but entering 2023 had offseason surgery on a patellar tendon and also shared more recently his mental-health struggles.

“I was so excited for Donovan because I just felt like he needed that,” Corum said. "He's back. Dono is back. That's something Donovan was praying for. He talked to the media the other day (and) I listened to the interview. He said he's working on growing. He said he went to a therapist and just talking and talking. But Donovan, he puts in the work. He's always there. I love that guy.”

Michigan’s offensive production took a dip for a bit. J.J. McCarthy, who was 10-of-18 for 140 yards and no touchdowns, also had four carries for 31 yards.

“We started fast,” Corum said. “They slowed us up a little bit. But when we needed to start fast again, we started fast. They had us for a little bit. We knew they were going to get theirs.”

UM held a seven-point lead, 20-13, until it began a fourth-quarter drive with 9:44 left from its 29-yard line. On the first play, McCarthy found tight end Colston Loveland for 41 yards to the Washington 30-yard line. Four plays later, Corum scored for the first time in the game, on a 12-yard run, his 26th rushing touchdown of the season.

Penix, who had been intercepted earlier in the game by Will Johnson, faced fourth-and-13 at the Michigan 30-yard line with 3:53 left. Sainristil made the interception and returned it 81 yards to the Washington 8-yard line.

“I just knew I made a key play in the game,” Sainristil said. “The guys up front forced Penix to overthrow it. All season long, we’ve been saying tips and overthrows, we’ve got to get those. To be able to capitalize, and bringing the ball within the 10, give the offense a short field to work with, and they were able to go ahead and punch it in. We knew we won the game, but we also had the mindset that it’s not over. Come back get them off the field again and let the offense do the deal.”

Corum scored again, this time from the 1-yard line, for the final score.

“Coaches always say playmakers have to make plays, and don't wait on anyone else to make a play,” Corum said. “But, today was a complete team effort. There's so many people making plays out there.

And when we needed a play, someone made it, whether it had been myself or whether it had been Will or J.J. or Donovan, Colston. I could keep going on just because so many guys made plays. But when the play needs to be made, playmakers make them. And we have a lot of them.”

So many veterans returned to Michigan for this final season and a final shot at their goal. Corum, whose 2022 season ended the final regular-season home game with a knee injury that would require surgery, led the way, and guards Zak Zinter and Trevor Keegan returned, as did Sainristil, Barrett and receiver Cornelius Johnson.

Now, their mission is finally accomplished.

“It feels great,” Sainristil said. “This is what the older guys came back for. The quote, ‘Those who stay will be champions,’ can’t be more true than it is right now.”

angelique.chengelis@detroitnews.com

@chengelis