Just 271 days removed from its 34-13 loss at the hands of Michigan in the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship, Washington enacted its revenge on Saturday in Seattle.
The Huskies outlasted the Wolverines 27-17 in the National Championship rematch, handing Michigan its first Big Ten loss since 2021. The loss puts Michigan’s College Football Playoff aspirations on life support, as the Wolverines fall to 4-2.
As has been the case all season, Michigan’s offense struggled mightily. The Wolverines were outgained 429-287 by the Huskies, and could only muster 113 passing yards in the loss. On the flip side, Washington quarterback Will Rogers posted 271 passing yards and a pair of touchdowns in the win.
After the Wolverines fell behind 14-0 while being unable to effectively move the ball early in the contest, Michigan pulled starting quarterback Alex Orji in favor of Jack Tuttle — who’s in his seventh year of college football.
From that point forward, Michigan’s offense seemingly improved under Tuttle and the Wolverines scored 17 unanswered points — including a 39-yard touchdown run from Donovan Edwards and an 8-yard pitch and catch from Tuttle to tight end Colston Loveland — to take a 17-14 lead midway through the third quarter.
The Huskies drew even early in the fourth quarter after a 28-yard field goal from Grady Gross, and after forcing a fumble from Tuttle, took a 24-17 lead with 6:22 to play on a 1-yard plunge from running back Jonah Coleman.
The turnover bug bit Tuttle once again, as the veteran quarterback threw an interception deep in Michigan territory with 3:24 to play, all but sealing Michigan’s fate.
Things don’t get much easier for the Wolverines, as they head to Champaign-Urbana to play No. 24 Illinois next week, while Washington travels to Iowa City for a matchup with the Hawkeyes.
