2024 College Football Playoff National Championship

This article is about the FBS (Division I-A) championship game. For the FCS (Division I-AA) championship game, see 2024 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game.

2024 College Football Playoff National Championship presented by AT&T
10th College Football Playoff National Championship
Washington Huskies Michigan Wolverines (14–0) (14–0) Pac-12 Big Ten 13 34 Head coach:  Kalen DeBoer Head coach:  Jim Harbaugh AP Coaches CFP 2 2 2 AP Coaches CFP 1 1 1
1 2 3 4 Total Washington 3 7 3 0 13 Michigan 14 3 3 14 34
Date	January 8, 2024
Season	2023
Stadium	NRG Stadium
Location	Houston, Texas
MVP	Offense: #2 RB Blake Corum, Sr. Michigan Defense: #2 CB Will Johnson, So. Michigan
Favorite	Michigan by 4.5
National anthem	Fantasia
Referee	Marcus Woods (ACC)
Attendance	72,808
United States TV coverage
Network	ESPN, ESPN Radio
Announcers	ESPN: Chris Fowler (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (analyst), Holly Rowe and Molly McGrath (sidelines), Bill Lemonnier (rules analyst), Marty Jaramillo (sports injury analyst) ESPN Radio: Sean McDonough (play-by-play), Greg McElroy (analyst), Ian Fitzsimmons, and Kris Budden (sidelines)
International TV coverage
Network	ESPN Deportes Brazil: ESPN Brazil/Star+ Canada: TSN1/3/4/5 Latin America: ESPN/Star+ Oceania: ESPN
Announcers	ESPN Deportes: Eduardo Varela (play-by-play), Pablo Viruega (analyst), Katia Castorena (sidelines) and Sebastian M. Christensen (analyst) ESPN Brazil: Matheus Pinheiro (play-by-play), Weinny Eirado (analyst), Deivis Chiodini (analyst) and Giane Pessoa (rules analyst)

The 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship was a college football bowl game that was played on January 8, 2024, at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. The tenth College Football Playoff National Championship, the game determined the national champion of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) for the 2023 season. It was the final game of the 2023–24 College Football Playoff (CFP) and, aside from any all-star games following after, the culminating game of the 2023–24 bowl season. The game began at approximately 6:45 p.m. CST and was televised nationally by ESPN. Sponsored by telecommunications company AT&T, the game was officially known as the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship presented by AT&T.

The game featured the No. 1 Michigan Wolverines of the Big Ten Conference (winners of the Rose Bowl) and the No. 2 Washington Huskies of the Pac-12 Conference (winners of the Sugar Bowl); it is also a rematch of the 1993 Rose Bowl. It was the first CFP National Championship Game without a participant from the Southeastern Conference (SEC) since the inaugural edition in 2015, which featured Ohio State and Oregon (also a Big Ten vs. Pac-12 matchup). Due to the planned expansion of the College Football Playoff to twelve teams beginning in 2024, it was the final CFP National Championship Game under the four-team format.

Background

Host selection

NRG Stadium was the site chosen for the National Championship Game on November 1, 2017. Houston was the tenth city to host the College Football Playoff National Championship (after Arlington, Glendale, Tampa, Atlanta, Santa Clara, New Orleans, Miami Gardens, Indianapolis, and Inglewood).

College Football Playoff

Main article: 2023–24 College Football Playoff

The four teams competing in the Playoff were selected by the CFP selection committee, whose final rankings were released on December 3, 2023.

The championship game was the tenth in College Football Playoff history. The semifinals were both played on January 1, 2024. In the first semifinal, played at the Rose Bowl, Michigan defeated Alabama in overtime, 27–20, shortly after Blake Corum's 17-yard touchdown run. In the second semifinal, played at the Sugar Bowl, Washington defeated Texas, 37–31, after quarterback Quinn Ewers' last second pass intended for Adonai Mitchell fell incomplete.

Venue

The exterior of NRG Stadium on January 6, 2024

NRG Stadium is a 72,220-seat venue in Houston, Texas. Opened in August 2002, the retractable roof stadium is home to the National Football League (NFL)'s Houston Texans as well as the annual Texas Bowl in college football. It has hosted Super Bowls XXXVIII and LI in 2004 and 2017, respectively.

Teams

This marked the 14th meeting between Michigan and Washington; the Wolverines led the all-time series, 8–5, entering the game. The most recent time Michigan and Washington played each other was on September 11, 2021, in which Michigan defeated Washington, 31–10, at Michigan Stadium.

This was the fifth postseason meeting between Michigan and Washington (1978, 1981, 1992, 1993). Entering the game, the postseason history between the teams was tied at two wins each. This was the first time that either Michigan or Washington played in a consensus national championship game, dating back to the 1963 Rose Bowl, which was the first #1 vs. #2 postseason matchup at the highest level of college football. Neither school played in a Bowl Coalition, Bowl Alliance, or BCS title game.

The Wolverines and Huskies entered the game set to become conference opponents starting with the 2024 season, as Washington committed to join the Big Ten. Their first such game has been scheduled for October 5, 2024, at Husky Stadium in Seattle.

Michigan

Main article: 2023 Michigan Wolverines football team

The Wolverines entered the game with a perfect 14–0 record, seeking their first national championship since 1997 and first outright since 1948.

In their playoff semifinal matchup in the Rose Bowl, Michigan rallied with 14 unanswered points to defeat the Alabama Crimson Tide in overtime, 27–20. It was Michigan’s first playoff win in school history.

Washington

Main article: 2023 Washington Huskies football team

The Huskies entered the game with a perfect 14–0 record, seeking their first national championship since 1991 and first outright in school history.

In their playoff semifinal matchup in the Sugar Bowl, Washington held off a late rally by the Texas Longhorns to prevail by a 37–31 score. It was Washington’s first playoff win in school history.

Starting lineups

Washington	Position		Michigan
Offense
Rome Odunze	WR		Tyler Morris
Ja'Lynn Polk	WR		Cornelius Johnson
Troy Fautanu	LT		LaDarius Henderson
Nate Kalepo	LG		Trevor Keegan
Parker Brailsford	C		Drake Nugent
Julius Buelow	RG		Karsen Barnhart
Roger Rosengarten	RT		Trente Jones
Jack Westover	TE		Colston Loveland
Devin Culp	TE	WR	Roman Wilson
Michael Penix Jr.	QB		J. J. McCarthy
Dillon Johnson	RB		Blake Corum
Defense
Tuli Letuligaseno	DL		Mason Graham
Faatui Tuitele	DL		Kris Jenkins
Bralen Trice	DE		Jaylen Harrell
Alphonzo Tuputala	LB	DE	Braiden McGregor
Zion Tupuola-Fetui	LB		Michael Barrett
Edefuan Ulofoshio	LB		Junior Colson
Jabbar Muhammad	CB		Will Johnson
Elijah Jackson	CB		Mike Sainristil
Dominique Hampton	SS		Rod Moore
Asa Turner	FS		Keon Sabb
Mishael Powell	DB		Makari Paige
† 2023 All-American

Source:

Game summary

Scoring summary

2024 College Football Playoff National Championship

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 2 Washington	3	7	3	0	13
No. 1 Michigan	14	3	3	14	34

at NRG Stadium • Houston, Texas

• Date: Monday January 8, 2024
• Game time: 6:45 p.m. CST
• Game weather: N/A (retractable roof stadium)
• Game attendance: 72,808
• Referee: Marcus Woods (ACC)
• TV announcers (ESPN): Chris Fowler (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (analyst), Holly Rowe and Molly McGrath (sideline reporters)
• Box score

Scoring summary

Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score Plays Yards TOP Washington Michigan 1 10:14 8 84 4:46 Michigan Donovan Edwards 41-yard touchdown run, James Turner kick good 0 7 1 3:56 14 67 6:18 Washington 25-yard field goal by Grady Gross 3 7 1 2:23 4 86 1:33 Michigan Donovan Edwards 46-yard touchdown run, James Turner kick good 3 14 2 13:28 5 65 1:53 Michigan 31-yard field goal by James Turner 3 17 2 0:42 11 61 4:01 Washington Jalen McMillan 3-yard touchdown reception from Michael Penix Jr., Grady Gross kick good 10 17 3 11:55 6 12 3:00 Michigan 38-yard field goal by James Turner 10 20 3 8:58 7 47 2:57 Washington 45-yard field goal by Grady Gross 13 20 4 7:09 5 71 2:35 Michigan Blake Corum 12-yard touchdown run, James Turner kick good 13 27 4 3:37 2 8 0:52 Michigan Blake Corum 1-yard touchdown run, James Turner kick good 13 34 "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 13 34

Statistics

Team statistical comparison

Statistic	Washington	Michigan
First downs	17	16
First downs rushing	2	10
First downs passing	13	6
First downs penalty	2	0
Third down efficiency	2–14	1–10
Fourth down efficiency	2–5	0–1
Total plays–net yards	71–301	57–443
Rushing attempts–net yards	20–46	38–303
Yards per rush	2.3	8.0
Yards passing	255	140
Pass completions–attempts (percentage)	27–51 (53%)	10–19 (53%)
Interceptions thrown	2	0
Punt returns–total yards	1–0	0–0
Kickoff returns–total yards	1–17	2–27
Punts–average yardage	5–47.8	5–46.8
Fumbles–lost	0–0	0–0
Penalties–yards	5–30	5–45
Time of possession	30:44	29:16

Source:

Washington statistics

Huskies passing
Name	C–A	Yds	TD–INT
Michael Penix Jr.	27–51	255	1–2
Huskies rushing
Name	Car	Yds	TD
Dillon Johnson	11	33	0
Jalen McMillan	1	9	0
Will Nixon	2	7	0
Tybo Rodgers	1	2	0
Ja'Lynn Polk	1	1	0
Michael Penix Jr.	3	−5	0
Huskies receiving
Name	Rec	Yds	TD
Rome Odunze	5	87	0
Jack Westover	5	42	0
Ja'Lynn Polk	4	37	0
Jalen McMillan	6	33	1
Dillon Johnson	2	24	0
Devin Culp	1	14	0
Tybo Rodgers	1	11	0
Will Nixon	3	7	0

Michigan statistics

Wolverines passing
Name	C–A	Yds	TD–INT
J.J. McCarthy	10–18	140	0–0
Wolverines rushing
Name	Car	Yds	TD
Blake Corum	21	134	2
Donovan Edwards	6	104	2
J.J. McCarthy	4	31	0
Kalel Mullings	3	21	0
Alex Orji	2	15	0
Wolverines receiving
Name	Rec	Yds	TD
Colston Loveland	3	64	0
Roman Wilson	3	54	0
Cornelius Johnson	3	25	0
Semaj Morgan	1	−3	0

Broadcasting

The 2024 edition was the tenth consecutive College Football Playoff National Championship to be televised on ESPN. ESPN also offered its MegaCast coverage, which televised the Playoff semifinals and the championship game on all of its networks except ABC with alternate broadcasts; the primary telecast aired on ESPN while other channels in the ESPN family of networks aired alternate broadcasts.

See also

• College football national championships in NCAA Division I FBS

External links

• Game statistics at statbroadcast.com