Michigan football dropped the national championship rematch with Washington on Saturday.
The Wolverines rallied from an early deficit to go up 17-14 but were shut out down the stretch as Washington scored twice in the fourth quarter for the 27-17 win. It is Michigan’s (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten) first conference loss and Washington (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten) avenged its January loss in the 2023 national championship, 34-13.
The Huskies shut down Michigan early to build an early 14-0 lead on touchdowns to Denzel Boston and Giles Jackson. Michigan responded by benching quarterback Alex Orji in favor of seventh-year senior Jack Tuttle, leading to a touchdown drive thanks to a long Donovan Edwards house call. Michigan finished the half with a 45-yard field goal by Dominic Zvada and blocking a Washington field goal attempt.
Michigan opened the second half with a long touchdown drive ending with a Colston Loveland touchdown to take its first lead. Washington started the fourth quarter with a field goal drive to tie the game at 17. Washington broke the tie in the fourth by forcing a Tuttle fumble in Michigan territory and Jonah Coleman punching in a touchdown on the ground four plays later.
It was Michigan’s first road game of the season, coming across the country in Seattle, and Michigan could not stand up to the test. The Wolverines now fall to 4-2 under Moore with losses to two of the other 2023 CFP participants, Washington and Texas.
TRENDING:Michigan’s teetering season faces pivot point tonight in CFP title rematch vs. Washington
Check out the game recap for Michigan vs. Washington below.
Washington’s field goal woes early are a thing of the past and the Huskies are going to avenge their national championship loss to Michigan.
Washington took over two minutes off the clock then took a two-score lead on a 32-yard field goal from Grady Gross, who will finish the game 2-of-4 on field goals.
The Wolverines may have just made the fatal mistake. Kamren Fabiculanan undercut a Tuttle pass on an out intended and gave Washington possession in Michigan territory with under three minutes left. Fabiculanan made a great play and dove in front of Colston Loveland for the interception.
The Huskies nearly had a stop on fourth down, but Kalel Mullings powered over the line for a conversion right before the interception. The referees ruled Mullings had a first down on third down but was ruled short after review.
The Tuttle fumble backfired immediately. Coleman carried Washington 32 yards to the end zone on three plays to retake the lead. He ripped off a 27-yard run down to Michigan’s 5 to start the drive, then ran through Kenneth Grant two plays later for what was ruled a touchdown, but called down at the 1-yard line after review. Coleman then hurdled the line a play later for a definitive touchdown.
Michigan’s new quarterback had his first big mistake in a massive moment.
Jack Tuttle stepped up in the pocket and tried to scramble, but the hole collapsed and defensive tackle Voi Tunuufi punched the ball free and another Washington defender jumped on it at Michigan’s 32-yard line.
Michigan’s offense went three-and-out after Washington’s field goal, but the defense came up with a big play. With Washington driving into the red zone, Will Rogers tried to float a pass into a tight window over the middle, but Hausmann was ready and made a leaping grab for the turnover.
We have a tied ball game in Seattle.
Washington slowly marched into Michigan territory with a 12-play, 45-yard drive that ended with the Huskies first successful field goal on their third attempt. Mason Graham put Washington’s offense behind the sticks with a sack on second-and-goal from the 10 with a powerful bull rush through the right guard and center into the lap of Will Rogers.
Michigan opened the second half with a long touchdown drive to take its first lead.
The Wolverines went 75 yards in 11 plays, taking over six minutes off the clock, and finished the drive with an 8-yard touchdown pass to tight end Colston Loveland. He rolled out to the right to avoid pressure and floated it up to a wide-open Loveland at the edge of the end zone. Tuttle ripped two passes to Armorion Walker and Semaj Morgan for the biggest gains on the drive.
Michigan’s big men in the middle of the defensive line came up with a big play again.
Washington quickly moved down the field with three passes for first downs to get into field goal range before half, but Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant blew up the middle of the field goal blocking unit on the 28-yard attempt and Graham got his hand on the ball for the block. Michigan started to click in the second quarter after making the switch to Jack Tuttle at quarterback.
Michigan has some life now.
The Wolverines forced a three-and-out and Michigan cobbled together a 56-yard drive to reach Washington’s 27-yard line, but couldn’t go any further and settled for a 45-yard field goal by Dominiz Zvada. Donovan Edwards had first down run and catch on the drive and Jack Tuttle completed two of three passes.
Just like the last time these two teams met, Donovan Edwards is the first player to provide a spark for Michigan. Edwards took a run off the right side and broke through for a 39-yard touchdown. Michigan made the switch at quarterback and benched Alex Orji in favor of Jack Tuttle after the offense’s early struggles and it paid off with an immediate touchdown drive.
Nothing has gone right for Michigan so far. After another quick punt from the offense, Washington drove 74 yards in four plays and found the end zone on a back shoulder pass to Giles Jackson, who adjusted to make the catch at the pylon. Jackson transferred from Michigan to Washington in 2021.
Michigan’s offense has 47 yards on three drives.
Washington put together a 13-play, 83-yard touchdown drive to take the lead over Michigan. Will Rogers finished the drive with a back shoulder fade to Denzel Boston in the corner of the end zone and the wide receiver made the toe-tapping catch to put the Huskies ahead. Rogers kickstarted it with a 39-yard completion to former Michigan receiver Giles Jackson on third-and-11 and another third-down completion to Boston to reach the red zone.
Michigan had two first downs on its first offensive drive, but Alex Orji missed on a third-and-4 pass on Washington’s 45-yard line, leading to a punt.
Michigan’s defense held Washington to zero points despite giving up an explosive gain on the first play of the game. Will Rogers started the drive with a deep shot to Denzel Boston for 36 yards, followed by a 10-yard run from Jonah Coleman to reach field goal range. But Michigan’s defense held firm there and Washington kicker Grady Gross hooked a 41-yard field goal to keep the game scoreless.
As frustrated as Michigan fans are with the offensive woes and early loss, Washington is off to a tougher start trying to recapture the 2023 magic. The Huskies are 3-2 with losses to rival Washington State and Big Ten foe Rutgers, which came last week on the road, 21-18.
Michigan players and coaches are excited for the change of scenery after the first five games spent exclusively at Michigan Stadium. Michigan is 17-2 when playing outside of Ann Arbor the past 3½ years, with both losses coming in the College Football Playoff.
Michigan’s offense still has plenty to figure out after barely escaping Minnesota last Saturday. It jumped out to an early lead again but couldn’t keep the foot on the pedal while the Gophers figured things out and scored three touchdowns. Orji threw for less than 100 yards again as the Wolverines stuck to a smashmouth attack out of necessity.
Tony Garcia, Detroit Free Press: To count Michigan out of any game is foolish, yet winning this one will be a challenge. It’s a 2,000-mile trip to a hostile environment, against a program which wants revenge for a CFP championship game loss in January. U-Dub has moved the ball well in the air, and Michigan has been susceptible to the pass. If U-M doesn’t get out to an early lead, the past two weeks of second-half struggles suggest a potential collapse. Simply put, it’s hard to win at Husky Stadium, where U-Dub has won 17 straight games. The pick: Washington 26, U-M 20.
Odds courtesy of BetMGM on Saturday evening.
The forecast in Seattle is projected to be partly cloudy with a high of 66 degrees.
Jared Ramsey is a sports reporter for the Detroit Free Press covering the city’s professional teams, the state’s two flagship universities and more. Follow Jared on X @jared_ramsey22, and email him at jramsey@freepress.com.
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