The college football playoffs were one to remember this year with the Michigan Wolverines winning this year’s championship. There was a lot of controversy with this year’s playoffs with an undefeated Florida State team being left out. 

“It was super disappointing that they were left out and I was also surprised that the committee left them out,” sophomore Cooper Hester said. 

Many believe Florida State should have been left out after an embarrassing loss of 63-3 to #6 Georgia in the Orange Bowl. 

“I think it was the right decision that Alabama should be in rather than Florida State just because Alabama would have put a better game up against Michigan than them,” Alabama fan sophomore Joe Schluchter said. 

Michigan’s offense was a freight train with their two leading rushers Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards. Corum led the train with 134 rushing yards on 21 carries with two touchdowns. In the back was Donovan Edwards, he had 104 rushing yards on six carries for two touchdowns. Edwards started the game hot with a 46-yard touchdown in just two plays. Later on in the game, he punched one out for 41 yards. 

“The O line play was perfect which made Blake Corum and JJ McCarthy look like Heisman candidates even though they were not in the discussion,” sophomore Jakob Beyer said.

Micheal Penix did not have the greatest game of his career with only 51 passes completing 27 passes for 255 yards a touchdown and an interception. Washington’s offense was off all night with Michigan’s secondary keeping the field clean.

 “I feel like Washington early in the playoffs against Texas was great. They got the job done. Micheal Penix was playing like a first-round pick but in the championship game I feel like he felt the pressure a little bit against Michigan,” junior Alexander Ardley said.

Washington’s defense played remotely the same as their offense, just off the whole night. They allowed 250 rushing yards while having a decent run defense. Although running was a problem they kept the air clean with JJ McCarthy only having 140 passing yards. 

“The Washington defense had played mediocre in comparison to their other games,” junior EJ Mataele said. 

All in all, Michigan was the more prepared and dominant team going into the game, winning 34-13 and taking the 2023 College Football Playoffs.