2024 College Football Playoff National Championship

The 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship (officially known as the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship presented by AT&T for sponsorship reasons) was a college football bowl game that was played on January 8, 2024, at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, United States. 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 afterward, 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.

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). Michigan and Washington had met in four previous Rose Bowls (1978, 1981, 1992, 1993) in the traditional matchup between Big Ten and Pac-8/10 champions. The game 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 2024–25, it was the final CFP National Championship Game under the four-team format; it was also Washington's last game as a member of the Pac-12 before their move to the Big Ten in time for the 2024 season.

Michigan led at the conclusion of the first quarter after two touchdown rushes, each of more than 40 yards, by Donovan Edwards; a 25-yard field goal was Washington's only score until a touchdown pass from Michael Penix Jr. to Jalen McMillan late in the first half. This narrowed the Huskies' halftime deficit to seven points. Penix was intercepted on the first play of the second half, giving Michigan possession near the red zone and ultimately leading to a 38-yard field goal. Washington scored another field goal but a second Penix interception and a turnover on downs by the Huskies in the fourth quarter led to two more Michigan touchdowns, both rushes by Blake Corum, the eventual offensive most valuable player (MVP). Michigan won the game 34–13, securing their first national championship since 1997 and first outright national championship since 1948. The victory made them only the fourth NCAA FBS national champion to finish 15–0.

Host selection
NRG Stadium in Houston was the site chosen for the 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). While it had not before hosted the CFP National Championship, the stadium had previously hosted major events from multiple sports, including the 2016 Copa América, numerous CONCACAF Gold Cups, three Final Fours (2011, 2016, 2023),   and two Super Bowls (2004, 2017). It is the regular host of the National Football League's Houston Texans and the NCAA's postseason Texas Bowl. In addition, it is scheduled to host matches as part of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

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 committee selected No. 1 Michigan of the Big Ten Conference, No. 2 Washington of the Pac-12 Conference, No. 3 Texas of the Big 12 Conference, and No. 4 Alabama of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Each team was the champion of its respective conference. Michigan and Washington entered the playoff with undefeated records while Texas and Alabama entered 12–1.

The semifinals were both played on January 1, 2024. The first semifinal was played at the Rose Bowl and matched No. 1 Michigan with No. 4 Alabama. The top-ranked Wolverines held a three-point lead at halftime but trailed by seven points with less than two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. The game was tied when Roman Wilson caught a touchdown pass from J. J. McCarthy and James Turner's extra point was good, and it went into overtime after neither team was able to score in the remaining minute and a half. Michigan was the only team able to score in the overtime period and they won the game by a 27–20 final score, earning them a berth in the national championship. The second semifinal, played at the Sugar Bowl, matched No. 2 Washington and No. 3 Texas. This game was higher-scoring than the first, and the teams entered halftime tied at 21 points apiece after each team scored three touchdowns in the first half. Washington scored the first 13 points of the second half and held a 34–21 lead shortly into the fourth quarter. Despite scoring a touchdown later in the quarter, Texas was unable to overcome the deficit and Washington won the game, 37–31, following a defensive stop on Texas's final offensive series of the game.

The championship game was the tenth in College Football Playoff history and the final championship to be played as part of the four-team playoff format; in September 2022, the CFP board of managers voted to expand the tournament from four teams to twelve, effective with the 2024–25 edition.

Teams
The game marked the fourteenth meeting between Michigan and Washington; the Wolverines led the all-time series entering the game with eight wins to Washington's five. The most recent meeting between the two was on September 11, 2021, when Michigan defeated Washington, 31–10, at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor. Michigan and Washington had met four times at the Rose Bowl (1978, 1981, 1992, 1993) in the traditional matchup between the Big Ten and Pac–8/10 champion; this would be the fifth postseason meeting between the teams and the first outside of Pasadena. Each team had won two of the Rose Bowl matchups.

Each of Michigan and Washington's most recent national championships was a split national championship in the 1990s, with Washington topping the Coaches Poll in 1991 and Michigan the AP Poll in 1997. This was the first time that either team had played in a definitive national championship game, as neither school participated in a Bowl Coalition, Bowl Alliance, or BCS championship game. Both teams lost in the semifinals of their previous College Football Playoff brackets, Washington in 2016 and Michigan in 2021 and 2022.

As part of the ongoing 2021–2024 NCAA conference realignment and collapse of the Pac-12, Washington will join the Big Ten Conference as a full member effective August 2, 2024, meaning that the teams will be conference opponents beginning in the 2024 season. Their first inter-conference game is currently scheduled to take place at Husky Stadium in Seattle on October 5, 2024.

Washington
Washington finished their regular season with a perfect 12–0 record, making them the first Pac-12 team to complete an undefeated regular season since Oregon in 2010, when the conference was still the Pac-10. They finished as regular season Pac-12 champions and, as a result, qualified for the 2023 Pac-12 Football Championship Game against Oregon. The Huskies and Ducks had met earlier in the season, on October 14 in Seattle when Washington won 36–33. In the conference championship rematch in Las Vegas, Washington prevailed again, this time by a score of 34–31. The playoff committee seeded them No. 2 and paired them with No. 3 Texas in the Sugar Bowl semifinal game; Washington won that game, 37–31, to advance to the national championship game.

Washington's two postseason victories gave them a 14–0 record entering the game. They were seeking their first national championship since 1991, when they were named national champions by the Coaches Poll, FWAA, and the NFF following a Rose Bowl win over Michigan; they have never won an outright national championship. This was Washington's second CFP appearance after a semifinal loss to Alabama in 2016 Peach Bowl. Washington head coach Kalen DeBoer was seeking his fourth national championship after winning three NAIA national titles as the head coach of the Sioux Falls Cougars in 2006, 2008, and 2009.

Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. won the Maxwell Award and was one of four finalists for the Heisman Trophy, awarded to the most outstanding player in college football in a given year. He finished runner-up to LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels and ahead of Oregon quarterback Bo Nix and Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.

Michigan
Michigan finished the regular season with a perfect 12–0 record, having concluded their Big Ten schedule with a rivalry win over Ohio State, 30–24. As Ohio State also entered the game undefeated, the Big Ten Conference East Division championship was on the line and Michigan's win and subsequent division title earned them a berth to the 2023 Big Ten Football Championship Game against the West Division champion Iowa. They defeated Iowa in a 26–0 shutout to claim their third consecutive conference championship; the Associated Press said that Iowa "never had a chance" in the game and remarked that Michigan was likely to claim the No. 1 seed in the playoff, which they ultimately did. The Wolverines defeated No. 4 Alabama in their semifinal game at the Rose Bowl in overtime, giving them a national championship berth.

Michigan entered the title game with a 14–0 record. They were seeking their first national championship since 1997, when they defeated Washington State in the Rose Bowl and were named national champions by the AP Poll, FWAA, and the NFF. Their last outright national championship was in 1948, when they finished undefeated at 9–0. This was Michigan's third appearance in the College Football Playoff after semifinal losses to Georgia in 2021 and TCU in 2022; their semifinal win over Alabama was their first CFP victory.

The game was played during an ongoing investigation into allegations of sign-stealing by Michigan Wolverines staff members. The scandal was a major headline for the team throughout the season; it centered around an allegation and subsequent investigations by the NCAA and Big Ten as to whether Michigan violated an NCAA bylaw regarding the scouting of future opponents. Connor Stalions, a Michigan football staffer, was cited by allegations as having attended more than 35 games to scout future opponents. Head coach Jim Harbaugh, who denied knowledge of the scouting, was suspended by the Big Ten for the team's last three regular season games against Penn State, Maryland, and Ohio State. He had previously served a suspension for the team's first three games of the season, against East Carolina, UNLV, and Bowling Green, as the result of a self-imposed sanction regarding recruiting violations.

Game summary
The game's officiating crew, representing the Atlantic Coast Conference, was led by referee Marcus Woods. The game, which took place on January 8, 2024, was scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. local CST, though its actual start time was 6:46 p.m. The pregame coin toss was won by Washington, who deferred their choice to the second half, thereby giving Michigan possession of the ball to begin the game.

First half
Washington kicker Grady Gross began the game as the opening kickoff was returned by Michigan's Semaj Morgan to the Wolverines' 16-yard line. The first three drives of the game all resulted in scoring plays for their respective teams. The Wolverines traveled 84 yards over the course of eight plays en route to the game's opening touchdown, scored on a 41-yard rush by running back Donovan Edwards. Washington scored a field goal on their first possession; they converted three third downs throughout the drive and finished with a 25-yard kick by Gross, which made the score 7–3 in favor of Michigan. The Wolverines' ensuing drive contrasted to Washington's first in length and result: UW took 14 plays and over six minutes of game time to score their field goal, whereas Michigan scored their second touchdown in four plays, which took less than a minute and a half off of the clock. With 3:46 remaining in the opening quarter, quarterback J. J. McCarthy completed a pass to wide receiver Roman Wilson for a 37-yard gain, and Edwards scored on a 46-yard touchdown rush just over a minute later. Placekicker James Turner made the extra point, giving Michigan an eleven-point lead. Washington was unable to respond as a rush for no gain by Dillon Johnson and an incomplete pass forced the contest's first three-and-out. Jack McCallister punted and the kick was downed by Jaden Green at the Michigan 21-yard line. With 21 seconds remaining in the first quarter, running back Blake Corum rushed for a gain of 59 yards before he was tackled at the Washington 20-yard line; this was the last play of the first quarter.

Following the long rush, Michigan was unable to gain a first down; Turner kicked a 31-yard field goal on 4th & 4 to extend his team's lead to fourteen points 1:29 into the second quarter. After the field goal, neither team scored for nearly thirteen minutes. Washington's ensuing drive ended with a turnover on downs at the Michigan 47-yard line following an incomplete pass thrown by quarterback Michael Penix Jr. that was intended for wide receiver Rome Odunze. Both teams then recorded three-and-outs, with Michigan failing to gain any yards before punting for a touchback and Washington gaining a net total of three yards (despite suffering a quarterback sack on first down) before punting the ball back to the Wolverines. Michigan faced 4th & 2 from the Washington 38-yard line on their next offensive series and elected to go for it, but failed in doing so and turned the ball over on downs. The Huskies scored their first touchdown exactly four minutes later, with Penix passing to Jalen McMillan for a 3-yard touchdown with 42 seconds remaining in the half; this play was also a fourth down conversion attempt. The successful extra point made the score 17–10 in favor of the Wolverines, who went three-and-out on their last drive of the half and punted; Washington took a knee to end the half.

Second half
The first turnover of the championship game came on the first play from scrimmage of the third quarter. After UW received the ball to begin the half, Penix threw a pass which was intended for Tybo Rogers but was intercepted by cornerback Will Johnson at the Washington 32-yard line. Michigan extended their lead to ten points after a three-minute drive that resulted in a 38-yard Turner field goal. Washington scored a field goal on their following drive, which was advanced down the field in part because of an unnecessary roughness penalty called on defensive back Makari Paige. The kick was from a distance of 45 yards and made by Gross, narrowing the Michigan advantage back down to seven points. The remainder of the third quarter consisted of the teams trading punts; only four first downs were recorded by both teams combined in the remaining 8:58 of the quarter and neither team crossed midfield. The quarter ended after a completed 12-yard pass from Penix to tight end Jack Westover which moved the ball to the Washington 23-yard line, with Michigan leading 20–13.

The teams continued to trade punts in the early stages of the fourth quarter; Washington failed to gain a first down following the completed pass which ended the third quarter and the next series for both teams resulted in a three-and-out. Michigan broke the streak with a five-play drive that began with a 41-yard pass by McCarthy to tight end Colston Loveland and resulted in a 12-yard touchdown rush by Corum with 7:09 remaining in the contest. Soon after, Washington found themselves facing 4th & 13 on the Michigan 30-yard line; on the play, a defensive pass interference penalty was called that would have given UW an automatic first down but the down was replayed because of an offensive holding call. The next fourth down conversion attempt resulted in an interception by defensive back Mike Sainristil, who returned the pass 81 yards to the Washington 8-yard line. Corum scored his second touchdown with a 1-yard rush two plays later, and Turner added the extra point to give Michigan a 34–13 lead. Those were the game's final points; Washington's last drive ended on an incomplete pass intended for Devin Culp on 4th & 10 from the UW 31-yard line that resulted in a turnover on downs. Corum rushed for 1-yard before the Wolverines kneeled twice to run out the clock and secure a 21-point national championship victory.

Broadcasting
The game was televised in the United States on ESPN, with Megacast coverage across numerous other channels in the ESPN family. In addition to the main national broadcast on ESPN, the Megacast coverage featured Field Pass hosted by The Pat McAfee Show on ESPN2, the Command Center feed with multiple angles and live statistics on ESPNU, the Skycast on ESPNews, and a Spanish-language broadcast on ESPN Deportes. The game was televised in Canada on TSN. ESPN Radio carried the national radio broadcast of the game and the WatchESPN website and mobile application featured "Hometown Radio" feeds featuring each team's regular radio commentators.

Commentary teams
The Saturday Night Football commentary team of Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, and Holly Rowe featured on the primary ESPN broadcast, with Molly McGrath joining Rowe as a sideline reporter. Bill Lemonnier, a former Big Ten referee, also featured as a rules analyst. The ESPN2 broadcast featured Pat McAfee, A.J. Hawk, Darius Butler, Anthony DiGuilio, Connor Campbell, and Ty Schmit. The ESPN Radio call featured play-by-play commentary from Sean McDonough, analysis from Greg McElroy, and sideline reporting from Ian Fitzsimmons and Kris Budden. The Spanish-language commentary team of Eduardo Varela, Pablo Viruega, Katia Castorena and Sebastian Christensen featured on the ESPN Deportes telecast, while ESPN Brazil's Portuguese-language broadcast featured Matheus Pinheiro, Weinny Eirado, Deivis Chiodini and Giane Pessoa. Michigan's "Hometown Radio" calls featured Doug Karsch, Jon Jansen, and Jason Avant from the Michigan Sports Network while Washington's featured Tony Castricone, Cameron Cleeland, and Elise Woodward from the Washington Sports Network.

Aftermath
Michigan's win gave them a 15–0 record to finish the season, making them the fourth NCAA FBS national champion to achieve the feat (after 2018 Clemson, 2019 LSU, and 2022 Georgia). Washington finished their final season as a member of the Pac-12 with a 14–1 record in what was one of the best seasons in program history.

Michigan running back Blake Corum and cornerback Will Johnson were named offensive and defensive MVPs, respectively.

A total of 72,808 people attended the game. The television broadcast of the game brought in 25 million viewers and peaked at 28 million; it was the most-watched national championship broadcast since LSU's defeat of Clemson in 2020 and represented a 45% increase from viewership of the previous year's championship, a 58-point rout of TCU by Georgia. It was the seventh-highest-viewed of all ten CFP National Championships and the second-highest-viewed game of the season, behind the Michigan–Alabama Rose Bowl semifinal. As a whole, the 2023–24 playoff was the most viewed since the 2017–18 playoff, which featured a double-overtime Rose Bowl and an overtime national championship.

After Alabama head coach Nick Saban announced his retirement on January 10, Kalen DeBoer was hired by Alabama to replace him two days later. On January 14, Washington hired Arizona head coach Jedd Fisch to be DeBoer's successor. Another coaching change occurred on January 24, when Jim Harbaugh became the head coach of the Los Angeles Chargers; he has NFL coaching experience as the San Francisco 49ers head coach from 2011 to 2014 and played quarterback for the Chargers in 1999 and 2000. Following Harbaugh's departure, Michigan offensive coordinator Sherrone Moore, who was the team's acting head coach during Harbaugh's suspensions, was hired to succeed him on January 26. The departures of Saban, DeBoer, and Harbaugh left Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian as the only one of the four coaches in the 2023–24 College Football Playoff to remain with their team into the 2024 season.

The championship game served as the conclusion of the 2023–24 NCAA bowl game season, followed only by the slate of postseason all-star games which took place in January and February 2024. These included the Hula Bowl, Tropical Bowl,, the Senior Bowl, and the.