(AP) – The second-ranked Washington Huskies (14-0) will face the No. 1 Michigan Wolverines next Monday night to play for the national title in Houston.
The Huskies will be looking for their first national championship since 1991 and the Pac-12’s first since Southern California in 2004.Washington is one of 10 schools fleeing the Pac-12 for other Power Five conferences next season. Washington is headed to join Michigan in the Big Ten. The conference is not going away, but its days as a potential football power are likely done.
Meanwhile, The Wolverines are one win away from reaching the primary goal set by head coach Jim Harbaugh when he returned to his alma mater in 2015 to restore its dominance.
Both College Football Playoff semi-final games gave fans exciting matchups to watch.
MICHIGAN VS ALABAMA
Alabama’s Jalen Milroe caught a low snap on fourth down in overtime at the Rose Bowl and ran straight ahead into wall of blue and maize.
That wall of Michigan defenders had been hardened by the Wolverines’ violent practice drills. Toughened by two previous CFP losses. Made impenetrable by months of turmoil that battered the program and its beloved head coach, Jim Harbaugh.
Alabama’s quarterback went nowhere.
The Wolverines are going to Houston.
Blake Corum rushed for a 17-yard touchdown on the second snap of overtime, and top-seeded Michigan advanced to its first CFP championship game with a 27-20 victory over fourth-seeded Alabama in the Rose Bowl on Monday night.
Harbaugh’s Wolverines (14-0) will play for their school’s first national title since 1997 against Washington on Jan. 8 — but only after a fourth-quarter comeback and a hair-raising finish when the two winningest programs in college football history played just the second overtime game in the 110 editions of the Granddaddy of Them All.
“Glorious. That was glorious,” Harbaugh said. “It was a tremendous football game.”
WASHINGTON VS TEXAS
The remarkable comeback story of Michael Penix Jr. is a victory away from a perfect ending for Washington.
Penix passed for 430 yards and two touchdowns, and the Huskies held off Texas 37-31 in the Sugar Bowl on Monday night to advance to the CFP title game, earning both the sixth-year quarterback with two surgically repaired knees and the beleaguered Pac-12 a chance to go out a champion.
“Huskie Nation stand up,” Penix told the UW crowd in the postgame trophy ceremony. “We goin’ to the natty!”
No. 3 Texas (12-2) had four shots at the end zone after getting to the Washington 12 with 15 seconds left, but Quinn Ewers missed on the last three passes. The final throw was a fade to Adonai Mitchell that was knocked away by Washington’s Elijah Jackson.
“Those guys are the most resilient guys I have ever been around,” Washington coach Kalen DeBoer said.
In Texas’ first CFP appearance and final football game as a member of the Big 12 before it goes to the Southeastern Conference, Ewers passed for 318 yards and a touchdown. But it wasn’t enough against Penix and his array of talented receivers.
“They were a second away from playing for a national championship,” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said. “They should be proud of themselves. Penix got hot and (Washington) made some big plays down the field.”
THE TAKEAWAYS
Alabama: The Tide will go three straight seasons without a national title for the first time in Saban’s tenure, but there’s no reason to be embarrassed about this well-played game against an elite opponent. The low snap on the final play will be crushing for center Seth McLaughlin, who didn’t want to talk to reporters afterward.
Michigan: The Wolverines have broken through the penultimate barrier in Harbaugh’s tenure with a victory that emphasized the upside of everything their coach teaches.
Texas: Came in with a vaunted defensive line led by All-America defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat and second-team All-American Murphy. They were tough to run against, as usual, but they didn’t get much pressure on Penix through an offensive line that was named the best in the country. Throughout the week both sides seemed a little tired of talking about the line matchup when the Huskies had the ball. Ultimately, the Huskies’ big guys came out on top, not allowing a sack.
Washington: On the Huskies’ final offensive play as they tried to burn clock, star running back Dillon Johnson was shaken up, which stopped the clock and gave Texas an extra 30 seconds or so for their own drive. There was no word on Johnson’s status for the matchup with Michigan.
UP NEXT
Alabama: The Tide will return with another touted recruiting class. Saban’s program remains a gold-standard powerhouse, and it’ll likely stay that way for as long as he wants to keep coaching.
Texas: Will Ewers be back for the Longhorns or is it Arch Manning time in Austin? Stay tuned.
Michigan & Washington: Washington is 5-8 all-time against Michigan, including 2-2 in Rose Bowls.