The College Football Playoff National Championship Game is a matchup between Washington and Michigan. The two future Big Ten opponents have faced each other quite a few times in the Rose Bowl.
One by one let’s examine the past matchups, beginning with the 1978 game.
The Huskies defeated the Wolverines that year, 27-20. A quarterback you might have heard of, Warren Moon, was named as the Rose Bowl Player of the Game. He went on to have a stellar CFL and then NFL career.
Notably, Washington outgained Michigan by just 10 yards, 398-388.
Washington went into halftime with a 17-0 lead and led 24-0 before the Wolverines made a comeback and came just short of winning the game.
Rick Leach was the quarterback for Michigan. He had a pair of touchdowns in the game as the fourth-ranked Wolverines made their desperate rally.
Michigan was favored by 14 points in the game, so the Huskies getting the win, led by head coach Don James, was a massive boost for the program, which began to take off after that point and establish itself as a West Coast power.
1978. Warren Moon. UW over Michigan in the Rose Bowl. pic.twitter.com/WQ0RrYRLwh
— OnlyWagsđź’Ż (@Wags_Official) January 6, 2024
Visit our friends at Fighting Irish Wire, Buffaloes Wire, and Ducks Wire.