For the third straight year, Michigan football played in a College Football Playoff semifinal. For the first time, the Wolverines emerged with a win. Now, the maize and blue head to Houston to face the No. 2 Washington Huskies and their elite offense.
Washington is as good as it gets offensively, but defensively it’s not great. However, the Huskies prefer a shootout, so it will be incumbent on the maize and blue to force Washington to play Michigan’s brand of football compared to vice versa.
Styles make fights and this couldn’t be two teams built any more differently. Here’s how they look.
Michigan offense, Washington defense, by the numbers
| Michigan offense (rank) | Washington defense (rank) | |
| Passing | 218.9 yards/game (73) | 267.1 yards/game allowed (123) |
| Rushing | 159.5 yards/game (62) | 137.07 yards/game allowed (43) |
| Scoring | 36 points/game (14) | 24.1 points/game allowed (53) |
| Total | 378.4 yards/game (72) | 404.1 yards/game allowed (97) |
| First downs | 20.1 first downs/game (70) | 22.6 first downs/game allowed (122) |
| Third down conversions | 44.79% (26) | 40.1% allowed (81) |
| Red zone conversions | 88.71% (31), TD: 72.58% (16) | 69.57% allowed (74), TD: 70% allowed (117) |
| Tackles for loss | 45 allowed (4) | 62 (103) |
| Sacks | 19 allowed (30) | 21 (104) |
Washington offense, Michigan defense, by the numbers
| Washington offense (rank) | Michigan defense (rank) | |
| Passing | 350 yards/game (1) | 150 yards/game allowed (2) |
| Rushing | 123.57 yards/game (102) | 93.14 yards/game allowed (9) |
| Scoring | 37.6 points/game (10) | 10.2 points/game allowed (1) |
| Total | 473.6 yards/game (10) | 243.1 yards/game allowed (1) |
| First downs | 23.7 first downs/game (14) | 13 first downs/game allowed (1) |
| Third down conversions | 46.84% (14) | 30.22% allowed (12) |
| Red zone conversions | 85.92% (62), TD: 67.61% (27) | 84% allowed (74), TD: 43.48% allowed (5) |
| Tackles for loss | 49 allowed (8) | 82 (37) |
| Sacks | 11 allowed (4) | 38 (15) |
Also, according to ESPN SP+, Michigan has the No. 2 team overall, the No. 12 offense and No. 1 defense. Washington has the No. 12 team, the No. 4 offense and the No. 44 defense.
The Wolverines and Huskies will play on Jan. 8 at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas at 7:30 p.m. EST.