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Michigan vs. Washington: What to know about CFP title game matchup

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Michigan vs. Washington: What to know about CFP title game matchup


After a raucous Rose Bowl and a Sugar Bowl so sweet it could make your teeth rot, the College Football Playoff national championship game is set.

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The game features two teams who combined to go 28-0 this season and will each play in the Big Ten Conference next season. And they did it in a year when Georgia was looking to become the first team since World War II to win three straight national titles as the crown jewel of a dominant SEC.

And now the SEC will find out for the first time in nearly a decade what it’s like to watch this game from a couch.

No. 1 Michigan, undefeated champion of the Big Ten, will square off against No. 2 Washington on Monday in Houston.

Let’s take a look at the matchup, how each team got here, and what to know about each team.

NO. 1 MICHIGAN (14-0)

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Michigan’s win against No. 4 Alabama not only earned the Wolverines their first CFP semifinal win in three opportunities but put a stop to the SEC’s decade of dominance.

Until New Year’s Day 2024, the SEC had played in eight consecutive national championship games, winning four.

And the Wolverines did it with defense. With six sacks, they put Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe in the brown paper bag twice more than Georgia did in the SEC title game. They also allowed just 283 yards and held the Tide to 3-for-13 on third downs, and 0-for-1 on fourth-and-goal to win the game.

The Tide trailing Michigan 13-10 at half felt unimportant. The Tide fell behind Tennessee 20-7 at the half and trailed Auburn at the half. In each game, Bama came back to win. And despite becoming the first team to lead Michigan in the second half all year, Bama could not come back to beat Michigan in overtime.

The best Michigan team we’ve seen since 1997 is on its way to the national title game.

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Rose Bowl: J.J. McCarthy, Michigan outlast Alabama in OT

The Coach: Jim Harbaugh

Three years ago, the Wolverines went 2-4 and Harbaugh looked like he might be on his way out of Ann Arbor. What ensued was one of the best turnarounds we’ve seen in the sport, with three Big Ten titles, three trips to the College Football Playoff, the program’s first win in a CFP semifinal, a 14-0 record, and the right to be called the home team as the No. 1-ranked team in the CFP national title game.

For Harbaugh, his legacy continues to grow. He took San Diego to its first Pioneer Football League title, Stanford to its first BCS win, the San Francisco 49ers to a Super Bowl appearance in 2012 — and now Michigan to its first appearance in the national title game this century.

[Why Michigan’s Rose Bowl victory was the quintessential Jim Harbaugh game]

Who to watch on offense

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Blake Corum showed himself to be the best player the Wolverines boast with 83 rushing yards and a TD run in overtime that personified the 2023 team — slashing, gashing, a force that will not be stopped.

With his TD, he set the school record for career rushing TDs in a career and solidified his place in history as one of the best backs the Wolverines have ever fielded.

The Wolverines are 31-0 when Corum scores a rushing TD, which came on Michigan’s last offensive play of the game.

Despite trailing in the second half for the first time all year, quarterback J.J. McCarthy led the Wolverines to a comeback win with 221 passing yards and three TDs — his first passing game with more than 150 yards and two passing TDs since Michigan’s win against Michigan State on Oct. 21.

Who to watch on defense

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The Michigan secondary, led by nickel corner Mike Sainristil, held Alabama to just 116 passing yards in its Rose Bowl win — allowing just five pass yards per attempt, while the Michigan front seven sacked quarterback Milroe six times — five of those in the first half.

NO. 2 WASHINGTON (14-0)

Like the Wolverines, the Huskies have reached 14-0 for the first time in school history, won their first College Football Playoff semifinal game in school history, and will play for a national title for the first time since finishing No. 1 in the Coaches Poll following the 1991 season. This after beating Texas in a wild Sugar Bowl on Monday night.

Sugar Bowl: Michael Penix Jr. and No. 2 Washington hold off No. 3 Texas

The Coach: Kalen DeBoer

All he does is win.

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Washington is 11-1 in one-score games and 10-0 against ranked ones under DeBoer. He’s also …

  • 14-0 this year
  • 25-2 in two seasons at Washington
  • 104-11 for his career
  • The owner of four undefeated seasons, and three national championships at NAIA Sioux Falls

Alongside Georgia coach Kirby Smart and Harbaugh, he’s one of the three best coaches in the sport over the last two years.

Who to watch on offense

Michael Penix Jr., vindicated those who thought he should’ve won the Heisman Trophy with a signature performance against Texas’ defense. He completed 29 of 38 passes for 430 yards with two TDs and zero INTs.

What’s more? He completed at least five passes to four pass catchers in the Sugar Bowl win.

The health of running back Dillon Johnson will be important to monitor. He left the game late with a lower leg injury. Though he rushed for just 47 yards in the Sugar Bowl, he rushed for more than 1,100 this season and became an important weapon in the Washington arsenal, especially in the second half of the season.

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Who to watch on defense

A Washington defense that is built on bending but never breaking did just that against Texas. It will have to do just that against the Wolverines if it expects to win.

But if the Dawgs defense can keep the game to one possession, Penix Jr., can win it for them.

RJ Young is a national college football writer and analyst for FOX Sports and the host of the podcast “The Number One College Football Show.” Follow him on Twitter at @RJ_Young and subscribe to “The RJ Young Show” on YouTube.

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LIVE UPDATES: Washington flooding, road closures, evacuations

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LIVE UPDATES: Washington flooding, road closures, evacuations


As more heavy rainfall is expected in western Washington this week, the region remains under a Flood Watch, with road closures, evacuations, and power outages persisting.

A Flash Flood Warning was activated and later canceled for parts of south King County after a Green River levee failed. The levee has since been repaired, patched by sandbags after nearby businesses were evacuated.

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Desimone Levee breech. (Dana Ralph, Kent Mayor)

Keep reading for live weather updates for Tuesday, Dec. 16.

8:05 a.m.: Resources available in Pacific, WA

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Valley Regional Fire listed several resources on behalf of the city of Pacific: 

  • Warm location that will be serving coffee and breakfast: Senior Center and the gym at the Pacific Community Center (100 3rd Ave SE)
  • Auburn Community and Events Center (910 9th ST SE) is open with Red Cross resources 
  • The Filipino American Community of Puget Sound in Algona (103 6th Ave N) is also offering a warm location
  • Alpac Elementary School (310 Milwaukee Blvd N) parking lot is available in addition to restrooms. 
  • Sandbags are available at 224 County Line Road

7:42 a.m.: Puget Sound Energy crews make significant progress in restoring power outages in WA

Puget Sound Energy (PSE) crews made great progress overnight after more than 50,000 people in western Washington lost power on Monday. As of 7:42 a.m. on Tuesday, there are only 56 outages impacted 1,343 customers.Snohomish PUD is reporting outages impacting 490 people. Clallam County PUD is reporting 0 outages.

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7:40 a.m.: SR 167 remains closed between Kent and Auburn

The Washington State Department of Transportation said both directions of State Route 167 remain closed on Tuesday between South 212th Street in Kent and 15th Avenue West in Auburn due to flooding.

Drivers are advised to take alternate routes and expect delays on I-5 and I-405.

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WSDOT’s David Rasbach told Good Day Seattle there was still water over the roadway in the area. 

State Route 167 remains closed between Kent and Auburn. 

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7:30 a.m.: Level 3 ‘Go Now’ Evacuation in Auburn, WA

There are still evacuation orders in effect in Auburn, Washington. This flooding from the Green River is forcing Level 3 ‘Go Now’ Evacuation order in the area between South 277th and north of 42nd, and east of SR-167 and west of Green River.

There are also Level 2 ‘Get Set’ Evacuations in several neighborhoods along both sides of the Green River, including areas near 104th Avenue Southeast, Pike Street Northeast and Pike Place Northeast – south of the Auburn Golf Course. Anyone who lives there should be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice if things get worse.

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Officials say evacuees seeking shelter can go to the Auburn Community and Event Center and Ray of Hope Shelter in Auburn.

7:24 a.m.: Person dead after driving car onto flooded roadway in Snohomish County

A driver died overnight in Snohomish after reportedly bypassing road closure signs and plunging into a flooded ditch near East Lowell Larimer Road.

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7:03 a.m.: Level 3 ‘Go Now’ Evacuation in Concrete, WA; School district closed 

There is a Level 3 ‘Go Now’ Evacuation order in place for the Erikson Road neighborhood in Concrete, Washington.

 The town says they found a landslide there last week, and with more rain and wind coming, they are asking people to leave the area.There is also an upgraded Level 2 ‘Get Set’ Evacuation near Burpee Hill Road that is impacting 32 homes. This comes after a landslide in the area on Monday.

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The Red Cross opened a shelter for people impacted by those evacuations at the Mount Baker Presbyterian Church off Main Street.

 County officials say pets can be accommodated.Schools in the Concrete School District are closed Tuesday. The district will continue to monitor conditions to make decisions for later this week.You can find more school closures across western Washington here. 

6:20 a.m.: How you can help

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GoFundMe has updated their list of verified fundraisers and non-profits providing help to those affected by the flooding. 

To donate to Washington and Pacific Northwest flood relief fundraisers, click here.

6:09 a.m.: Flooding impacting local blood supply

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The flash flood evacuation from the Green River levee breech is near Bloodworks Northwest’s Renton Lab and Donor Center.

Officials say the stored blood supply remains safe, but the donor center is closed. 

Critical blood storage, supplies and vehicles were moved to a different location, and upcoming blood drives may be affected. 

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Bloodworks Northwest said more than 300 potential donations have been canceled since last week, which created a shortage. 

The company is asking donors of all blood types are needed. To donate, click here.

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6:04 a.m.: Evacuation efforts in Pacific, WA

Valley Regional Fire Authority crews are working to help residents evacuate in Pacific. 

Officials said about 100 residents have been evacuated and no injuries have been reported. 

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The affected areas primarily are S of 1st, and E of Butte, S of Stewart, and Skinner Road.

5:20 a.m.: Tracking school closures and delays

Several school districts in western Washington announced delays.  

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Here is the latest list. 

5 a.m.: New evacuation orders in Pacific 

Early Tuesday morning, police in Pacific announced after 1:30 a.m. there was a Level 3 “Go Now” evacuation order due to a levee break on the White River.

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The evacuation order affects the areas east of Butte and South of Third. 

National Weather Service Seattle issued a Flash Flood Warning before 1:45 a.m. Tuesday.

Tuesday weather forecast

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Heavy rain, gusty winds and mountain snow returns to western Washington by Tuesday evening, with the potential to push river levels even higher and knock out power to thousands due to downed trees.

The Skagit, Snoqualmie, Green, White, Cedar, Cowlitz, Stehekin and Skykomish rivers are back under Flood Warnings.

Flood Watch

A Flood Watch remains in effect for parts of Western Washington through Thursday afternoon.  (FOX 13 Seattle)

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A Winter Storm Warning and Winter Weather Advisory will be in effect Tuesday afternoon through late Wednesday for heavy mountain snow.

Green River levee fails, Flash Flood Warning

A Flash Flood Warning was activated on Monday after a Green River levee failed in Tukwila, prompting evacuations in areas downstream from the levee break.

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While the warning was canceled just before Monday evening, the Desimone levee breach was at one point described as “life-threatening” and reportedly threatened nearby structures.

Most of western Washington remains under a Flood Watch through Thursday due to the rainy forecast ahead, along with already high river levels.

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Road closures in Western Washington

Several critical roadways across western Washington are closed due to weather effects, including highway washouts that will continue to impact travel.

On Interstate 90, eastbound lanes of the freeway are closed near North Bend due to a landslide. Additionally, though not weather related, all westbound lanes are closed near Cle Elum due to construction of the Bullfrog Road overpass.

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U.S. 2 Stevens Pass is closed at Tumwater Canyon after a section of the highway was washed out by flooding last week. It’s blocked between Skykomish and Leavenworth, and there is no estimated time for when the road will reopen. Highway 410 is also closed at Enumclaw due to a washout.

SR 410 washout (Enumclaw Police Department)

MORE NEWS FROM FOX 13 SEATTLE

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New WA laws in 2026 include higher wages, luxury car tax, plastic bag fee hike

Wild Waves Theme Park to shut down in 2026

Charter bus breaks down in Leavenworth, leaving dozens stranded

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75-year-old woman attacked in Downtown Seattle, suspect arrested

Washington State Ferries seeks new owners for aging fleet castoffs

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To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter.

Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.

The Source: Information in this story came from the websites and social media pages of various agencies and emergency management departments across western Washington, and FOX 13 Seattle reporting.

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Washington holds on to win OT thriller 3-2 against NC State in College Cup Final

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Washington holds on to win OT thriller 3-2 against NC State in College Cup Final


NC State (16-2-4)

NC State secured a 2-1 victory over Saint Louis on Saturday, weathering a late Billiken rally to hold onto the win. After dominating the middle portion of the match, the Wolfpack survived a tense final 10 minutes following a successful Saint Louis penalty conversion.

The Wolfpack offense broke through in the 69th minute when Donavan Phillip scored off a clinical sequence involving Isaac Heffess and Calem Tommy and ending in a perfectly placed header. Taig Healy quickly doubled the advantage at the 72:04 mark, burying another header assisted by Riley Moloney to put NC State up 2-0.

Saint Louis found a lifeline in the 80th minute. Following a foul in the box by NC State’s Justin McLean, Quinten Blair stepped to the spot and converted the penalty kick to cut the deficit to one.

Defensively, both goalkeepers remained busy. NC State’s Logan Erb made two crucial saves, including a stop on Jack DiMaria in the 85th minute to prevent an equalizer. Saint Louis’ Jeremi Abonnel finished with four saves, notably denying Ibrahim Conde and Frankie DeFrancesco in quick succession to keep the Billikens within striking distance early in the second half.

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Washington (15-6-2)

Behind a dominant multi-point performance from Charlie Kosakoff, Washington defeated Furman 3-1 in the semis to advance to the national championship. The Huskies controlled the tempo from the opening whistle, outshooting the Paladins and consistently testing the frame.

Washington’s offense ignited late in the first half. Zach Ramsey opened the scoring in the 32nd minute, converting a pass from Alex Hall. Kosakoff, who was a constant threat throughout the match, doubled the lead in the 40th minute with an unassisted strike to give the Huskies a 2-0 cushion at the break.

Despite a more aggressive Furman side in the second half, Washington put the game away in the 86th minute. Asher Hestad, appearing as a late substitute, found the back of the net off a surgical assist from Kosakoff. Furman managed to spoil the shutout just over a minute later when Luke Hutzell scored off a double assist from Braden Dunham and Connor Dunnigan, but the Paladins could not find a path to a comeback.

Furman goalkeeper Ivan Horvat delivered a heroic performance in defeat, recording eight saves to keep the score respectable. His work was highlighted by a string of four saves in the second half against a relentless Washington counter-attack. Washington’s Jadon Bowton earned the win, making one key save on a Wilfer Bustamante attempt late in the first half that could have switched the momentum.

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Washington Spirit Names Kim Bolt Chief Marketing & Strategy Officer

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Washington Spirit Names Kim Bolt Chief Marketing & Strategy Officer


Bolt transitions into role after driving impact as Fractional CMO earlier this season

Washington, D.C. (12/15/2025)The Washington Spirit today announced the appointment of Kim Bolt as Chief Marketing & Strategy Officer, a newly created executive role that reflects the club’s continued evolution into a high-performance, growth-oriented organization.

Bolt transitions into the role after joining the Spirit earlier this season as Fractional Chief Marketing Officer, where she played a key role in strengthening the club’s marketing strategy, analytics foundation and demand-generation efforts during a pivotal stretch of the year. 

In her expanded role, Bolt will oversee Marketing, Communications, Brand, Strategy and Analytics, with a mandate to build a modern, data-driven commercial engine that accelerates fan growth, deepens engagement, elevates the Spirit’s brand and supports the club’s long-term ambitions on and off the pitch. 

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With more than 20 years of marketing and strategy leadership across technology, fitness and sports, Bolt brings deep experience scaling mission-driven brands. Her career includes senior leadership roles at Google, Lyft, Under Armour and Disney, as well as serving as Chief Marketing Officer of the Washington Nationals. An expert in marketing technology centered around fan data, Bolt has also advised League One Volleyball and served as Fractional CMO for OnDeck Partners, an Avenue Sports Fund portfolio company focused on minor league baseball. 

“As we evolve from a team that wins into an organization built for sustained excellence, Kim’s experience and mindset are exactly what we need,” said Kim Stone, CEO of the Washington Spirit. “She understands this market, this moment and the scale of the opportunity in front of us. Her global brand experience, strategic rigor and early impact with our organization strengthen the foundation we’re building and position us for long-term, sustainable growth.” 

A former youth soccer player, Bolt was drawn to the sports industry by her belief in its unique ability to create emotional connection and lifelong memories, a passion shaped early by her family’s love of the game. Throughout her career, Bolt has championed a leadership style grounded in empathy, resilience and accountability. She is committed to supporting women in sports and business and believes high performance and personal balance can, and should, coexist.  

“The first time my daughters came to a Spirit match, they memorized the roster and their eyes lit up when they saw a player who looked like them,” said Bolt. “That was the moment I knew I wanted to be part of this organization. Having worked closely with the team this season, I’ve seen firsthand the ambition, the talent and the opportunity ahead. I’m honored to step into this role and help build a brand and growth engine that matches the excellence we’re striving for on the field.”

Bolt resides in Silver Spring, Maryland with her husband, three children and two dogs. She holds an MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania as well as a master’s degree in Communications and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Cornell University. As the Spirit’s first Chief Marketing & Strategy Officer, Bolt will lead the club through the offseason and into the 2026 season, helping shape the next chapter of the organization’s growth.

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About The Washington Spirit

The Washington Spirit is the premier professional women’s soccer team based in Washington, D.C. and plays at Audi Field in Buzzard Point. The Spirit was founded on November 21, 2012, and is an inaugural member of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) the fastest growing sports league in the US. The club is home to some of the best players in the world who have won championships for both club and country. For more information about the Spirit, visit WashingtonSpirit.com and follow the club on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.





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