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Michigan ices national championship game win with near pick-6
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
Michigan drove a dagger into Washington’s College Football Playoff national championship hopes with three-and-a-half minutes remaining in regulation.
With the Huskies facing a crucial 4th-and-13 at the Michigan 30, Michael Penix Jr. was intercepted by Mikey Sainristil, who nearly brought it back for a pick-6 before being taken down at the Washington 8, an 81-yard return.
The Wolverines, though, eventually did get it into the end zone: Blake Corum took it down to the 1 before punching it in a play later for his 2nd touchdown of the game, 18th of the season, and 58th of his decorated career as Michigan’s lead swelled to 34-13.
Mikey Sainristil called game?️
— PFF College (@PFF_College) January 9, 2024
BLAKE CORUM BACK IN THE END ZONE! ?#NationalChampionship pic.twitter.com/BOGhAi4nVn
— ESPN (@espn) January 9, 2024
The Wolverines started off hot but cooled off a bit as Washington looked to find a way back into the contest. But back-to-back scoring drives gave Michigan, looking for its first national championship since 1997, the cushion it needed to put the game out of reach as a 20-13 Wolverines lead turned into 34-13 in just a matter of minutes.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
