Last weeks game has brought us to the precipice. The Horror! The Horror! Last weekend’s game has now brought us to the precipice that Monday January 8th, 2024, could be football’s date with infamy.
But this will not be the result of a surprise attack. This has been building across the football landscape for an entire season. Each victory bringing us closer to the abyss, the stench growing stronger, the arrogance trumpeted ever louder.
Last weekend was one more firebreak that was breached. For a week, we girded ourselves, forced to choke down our own vomit and root for a near equally despised program led by a long ago traitor, with equal measures of arrogance, from a conference brimming with delusional grandeur. Perhaps, we thought, a team that can match overstuffed egos, ounce for ounce could bring them down.
It was not to be.
But this will not be the result of a surprise attack. This has been building across the football landscape for an entire season. Each victory bringing us closer to the abyss, the stench growing stronger, the arrogance trumpeted ever louder.
Last weekend was one more firebreak that was breached. For a week, we girded ourselves, forced to choke down our own vomit and root for a near equally despised program led by a long ago traitor, with equal measures of arrogance, from a conference brimming with delusional grandeur. Perhaps, we thought, a team that can match overstuffed egos, ounce for ounce could bring them down.
It was not to be.
What an epic battle that would have been Our hoped for outcome, that the field itself would open up and both teams would descend into a gloriously televised contest against Cerberus itself did not arise. Rather, in a game that would not be decided in 60 minutes, the lesser evil was vanquished, done in at times by the subtlest of flaws, the inability to properly hike a football.
And now our final hopes rest with an unlikely final hero. A team that destroyed, some would say toyed with us in Week 4. Led by a quarterback who beat us then, and with a far more inept team three years ago.
And no, hanging an asterisk on the season, nor vacating victories will inoculate us should the unfathomable occur. It will be dismissed as a mere punctuation mark amidst their self-proclaimed glory. Little protection against an arrogance that will reach heights never seen before, taking generations to abate.
They must be defeated on the field. On the ground and through the air with ever growing strength, victory must be achieved.
So the question becomes – is it possible? Can the tide be turned and righteousness survive? It will be a tall task, the enemy is strong, experienced and confident.
And now our final hopes rest with an unlikely final hero. A team that destroyed, some would say toyed with us in Week 4. Led by a quarterback who beat us then, and with a far more inept team three years ago.
And no, hanging an asterisk on the season, nor vacating victories will inoculate us should the unfathomable occur. It will be dismissed as a mere punctuation mark amidst their self-proclaimed glory. Little protection against an arrogance that will reach heights never seen before, taking generations to abate.
They must be defeated on the field. On the ground and through the air with ever growing strength, victory must be achieved.
So the question becomes – is it possible? Can the tide be turned and righteousness survive? It will be a tall task, the enemy is strong, experienced and confident.
Texas ran for 6.4 yards per attempt versus Washington Confidence arising from dominating the opposition. Only two games were decided by one score, Maryland and Ohio State. Confident in their ability to run the ball down Washington’s throat. Relying on the one-two punch of Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards to find running room against the Washington defense. A defense that has had issues all year against the run,
The Huskies allowed over 135 rush yards per game at 4.4 yards per carry this year. They gave up over 110 rush yards to all but two opponents this season and bottoming out with 204 allowed to Oregon. Against Texas, they gave up 6.4 yards per rush attempt.
Michigan’s defense has had few such issues. They ranked ninth in defensive success rate and fourth in opponent yards per play, striking fear in opposing quarterbacks. Alabama's front learned that the hard way, as UM piled up six sacks.
Michigan will want to make this a WWI trench warfare type game. Washington will want it to be WWII, won through air power.
The Huskies allowed over 135 rush yards per game at 4.4 yards per carry this year. They gave up over 110 rush yards to all but two opponents this season and bottoming out with 204 allowed to Oregon. Against Texas, they gave up 6.4 yards per rush attempt.
Michigan’s defense has had few such issues. They ranked ninth in defensive success rate and fourth in opponent yards per play, striking fear in opposing quarterbacks. Alabama's front learned that the hard way, as UM piled up six sacks.
Michigan will want to make this a WWI trench warfare type game. Washington will want it to be WWII, won through air power.
Washington's secondary help up well against better QBs than McCarthy Michigan has attempted to wear the mantle of us against the world as they try to put aside all the NCAA scandals but Washington is the proper owner. Doubted at every step along the way, they now own the nations longest winning streak at 21.
Michigan’s running attack is indeed strong but Texas and Oregon (twice) both put up solid rushing numbers and the Huskies won all three of those games. Washington’s defense is supposed to be its Achilles heel but always steps up when it is needed most. Overlooked amidst it’s subpar rushing stats, it did rank 25th in opponent yards per attempt and 29th in opponent QB rating, against a league brimming with next level QB talent.
Michigan’s defense may be strong as well but Washington played four teams in the Top 26 in defensive success rate. Penix threw for 1,383 yards with nine touchdowns and just two picks in those games. Penix is not phased by good defensive teams.
Michigan’s running attack is indeed strong but Texas and Oregon (twice) both put up solid rushing numbers and the Huskies won all three of those games. Washington’s defense is supposed to be its Achilles heel but always steps up when it is needed most. Overlooked amidst it’s subpar rushing stats, it did rank 25th in opponent yards per attempt and 29th in opponent QB rating, against a league brimming with next level QB talent.
Michigan’s defense may be strong as well but Washington played four teams in the Top 26 in defensive success rate. Penix threw for 1,383 yards with nine touchdowns and just two picks in those games. Penix is not phased by good defensive teams.
And as good as they looked against Bama, It might be a little harder for Michigan to generate that same type of pressure against Washington’s OL, which won the Joe Moore Award for the nation’s best unit. giving up only 11 sacks all season. That includes not allowing a single sack against a Texas defensive line that has multiple future NFL players on it.
McCord put up 271 on Michigan. Penix can do better. And should, nay, when Washington negates Michigan’s advantages then the game will be decided by Penix and the best aerial attack since LSU in 2019.
Sure, Michigan Wolverines allowed the fewest touchdown passes (seven) of any team in the nation this year. However, it struggled when facing talented QBs. Maryland’s Taulia Tagovailoa threw for 172 yards while Alabama’s Jalen Milroe and Ohio State’s Kyle McCord each got past the 240-yard mark. All three happened in the last four games, (the Big Ten championship punt fest against Iowa being the exception) with all three being tight games that could’ve gone either way.
None of those offense even approach Washington's, Michigan has yet to face a passing attack with the depth of weapons, offensive line, and quarterback ability that Washington beings to NRG stadium.
Penix Jr. torched Texas for 430 yards and two touchdowns with the uncanny ability to hit one-on-one throws to receivers Rome Odunze, Ja'Lynn Polk, Jalen McMillan, and Germie Bernard. He can do that again.
This is the fourth time the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds for the CFB Playoff will meet in the national championship. No. 2 seeds are 3-0 in those matchups. I'll put my money on Washington making it 4-0.
Sure, Michigan Wolverines allowed the fewest touchdown passes (seven) of any team in the nation this year. However, it struggled when facing talented QBs. Maryland’s Taulia Tagovailoa threw for 172 yards while Alabama’s Jalen Milroe and Ohio State’s Kyle McCord each got past the 240-yard mark. All three happened in the last four games, (the Big Ten championship punt fest against Iowa being the exception) with all three being tight games that could’ve gone either way.
None of those offense even approach Washington's, Michigan has yet to face a passing attack with the depth of weapons, offensive line, and quarterback ability that Washington beings to NRG stadium.
Penix Jr. torched Texas for 430 yards and two touchdowns with the uncanny ability to hit one-on-one throws to receivers Rome Odunze, Ja'Lynn Polk, Jalen McMillan, and Germie Bernard. He can do that again.
This is the fourth time the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds for the CFB Playoff will meet in the national championship. No. 2 seeds are 3-0 in those matchups. I'll put my money on Washington making it 4-0.
