Washington Huskies Triumph Over No. 10 Michigan Wolverines in Thrilling Rematch

The Washington Huskies took a step towards redemption on Saturday night by defeating the No. 10 Michigan Wolverines 27-17 in a much-anticipated rematch of last season’s College Football Playoff championship game. This time, the outcome was different as the Huskies secured a hard-fought victory at Husky Stadium, marking their 18th consecutive home win.

Washington quarterback Will Rogers led his team to victory, throwing for 271 yards and two touchdowns. His performance helped the Huskies (4-2, 2-1 Big Ten) to take down the Wolverines in front of an ecstatic home crowd. Reflecting on the win, Rogers noted how memorable the celebration was, with fans rushing the field to mark the momentous occasion. “I've never been a part of something like that,” Rogers said. “It’s something I’ll remember for the rest of my life.”

This win was particularly sweet for the Huskies, who had suffered a tough loss to Michigan in the national championship game earlier this year. In that game, the Wolverines dominated on their way to their first national title since 1997. However, the rematch on Saturday proved to be a much closer contest.

A Strong First Half for Washington

The Huskies started strong in the first half, with Rogers connecting on a 3-yard touchdown pass to Denzel Boston and a 16-yard touchdown pass to Giles Jackson. These scores gave Washington a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter, stunning the Wolverines.

Michigan, struggling to find offensive rhythm early in the game, replaced starting quarterback Alex Orji with backup Jack Tuttle, who provided an initial spark. Tuttle helped the Wolverines close the gap with a touchdown and field goal, eventually giving Michigan a 17-14 lead in the third quarter after his 8-yard touchdown pass to Colston Loveland.

Late-Game Heroics from Washington

Despite Michigan's brief lead, the Huskies bounced back in the final minutes of the game, thanks to some key defensive plays and a strong running performance from Jonah Coleman. With 6:22 left in the game, Coleman scored on a 1-yard touchdown run, giving Washington a 24-17 lead. Coleman, who rushed for 80 yards in the game, had a crucial 27-yard run just before his touchdown, setting up the score that ultimately gave Washington the lead for good.

Michigan’s chance to respond was thwarted when Tuttle fumbled after being hit by Washington’s Von Tunuufi, and the Huskies recovered the ball. Another interception by Washington’s Kamren Fabiculanan on Michigan’s next possession sealed the victory for the Huskies.

Fabiculanan, one of the few remaining players from last season’s championship team, described the moment as significant for both him and his teammates. “That was a big-time turnover,” Fabiculanan said. “Shout out to my brothers for doing their job.”

Michigan’s Struggles on Offense

Michigan’s offense struggled for much of the game, particularly in the first half. Donovan Edwards provided a brief spark with a 39-yard touchdown run, which cut into Washington’s lead. Edwards’ run was reminiscent of the two long touchdowns he scored in last season’s championship game against the Huskies, but it wasn’t enough to carry the Wolverines to victory this time.

Michigan’s leading rusher, Kaleel Mullings, was held to just 49 yards on 14 carries, a far cry from his usual dominance. The Wolverines struggled to establish a consistent running game, and despite Tuttle’s brief success after replacing Orji, Michigan was unable to capitalize on key opportunities in the fourth quarter.

A Significant Win for Washington

For the Huskies, this win not only helped them avenge their championship game loss but also extended their home winning streak to 18 games, the second-longest streak in school history. Head coach Jedd Fisch, in his first season at Washington, called the win “satisfying,” especially considering the magnitude of the opponent. “You lose to them in the championship and then to come back and win and beat them, it feels good,” Fisch said.

The victory over Michigan also gave Washington a boost in the Big Ten standings, where they now sit at 4-2 overall and 2-1 in conference play. As for Michigan, the loss snapped their 24-game Big Ten regular-season win streak, which dated back to October 2021.

Looking ahead, both teams have much to reflect on as they prepare for the remainder of the season. For Washington, the win represents a turning point in their season, while Michigan will need to regroup and fix the issues that plagued them in the game, particularly the turnovers and struggles on offense.

As the final seconds ticked away, Husky Stadium erupted in purple, and for the Washington Huskies, the win was not just a victory—it was a moment of redemption.