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 2015. Due to the 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 the fourth NCAA FBS national champion to finish 15–0.
Background 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.
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 semi-finals 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 joined the Big Ten Conference as a full member effective August 2, 2024, meaning that the teams are conference opponents beginning in the 2024 season. Their first inter-conference game took place at Husky Stadium in Seattle on October 5, 2024; Washington won the rematch in an upset by a score of 27–17.
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 semi-final 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 semi-final 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 semi-final 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 semi-final losses to Georgia in 2021 and TCU in 2022; their semi-final 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.
Starting lineups
WashingtonPosition MichiganOffense † Rome Odunze 1 WR Tyler Morris Ja'Lynn Polk 2 WR Cornelius Johnson 7 Troy Fautanu 1 LT LaDarius Henderson 7 Nate Kalepo LG Trevor Keegan 5 Parker Brailsford 5 C Drake Nugent Julius Buelow RG Karsen Barnhart Roger Rosengarten 2 RT Trente Jones Jack Westover TE Colston Loveland 1 Devin Culp 7 TEWR Roman Wilson 3 Michael Penix Jr. 1 QB J. J. McCarthy 1 Dillon JohnsonRB † Blake Corum 3Defense Tuli Letuligasenoa DL Mason Graham 1 Faatui Tuitele DL Kris Jenkins 2 Bralen Trice 3 DE Jaylen Harrell 7 Alphonzo Tuputala LBDE Braiden McGregor Zion Tupuola-Fetui LB Michael Barrett 7 Edefuan Ulofoshio 5 LB Junior Colson 3 Jabbar Muhammad CB Will Johnson 2 Elijah Jackson CB Mike Sainristil 2 Dominique Hampton 5 SS Rod Moore Asa Turner FS Keon Sabb Mishael Powell DB Makari Paige (number corresponds to draft round)
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 pm. 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.