By Sanderson “Snuffy” Smith
WASHINGTON GAME NOTES/MEDIA GUIDE
MICHIGAN GAME NOTES
ROSTER
https://gohuskies.com/roster.aspx?path=football&season=2023
MATCHUP HISTORY
https://gohuskies.com/sports/football/opponent-history/michigan/159
THE GAME: The No. 2-ranked Washington football team (14-0) takes on No. 1 Michigan (14-0) in the 2023 College Football Playoff Championship Game, Monday, Jan. 8, at NRG Stadium in Houston. Washington earned a shot at the crown thanks to a 37-31 win over No. 3 Texas in the Sugar Bowl, while the Wolverines out-lasted No. 4 Alabama, 27-20, in overtime, at the Rose Bowl. Kickoff is at 6:30 p.m. CT/4:30 p.m. PT, and the game will air on ESPN, with a variety of viewing options on various ESPN stations and platforms.
QUICK HITTERS: UW has the nation’s longest active FBS winning streak, at 21 … the win streak is the third-longest in UW history, after 40 (1908-16) and 22 (1990-92) … Washington is 25-2 overall under head coach Kalen DeBoer, whose career head coaching record is now 104-11 … DeBoer is also 10-0 vs. ranked teams at UW, and is 18-2 in playoff games as a head coach … Washington’s last 10 games have all been decided by 10 or fewer points, and UW has won them all … according to ESPN, that’s the longest such streak in the “AP Poll Era” (since 1936) … the Huskies are No. 1 the nation in passing offense and are No. 10 in total offense … Rome Odunze has 1,553 receiving yards, having broken Reggie Williams’ school record (1,454 in 2002) … Odunze’s total is third-most in Pac-12 history… in less than two full seasons, Michael Penix Jr. is up to third in UW history in career TD passes, with 66 … he has thrown multiple TDs in 21 of his 27 games at UW … his 9,289 career yards rank him third at UW … Penix is No. 1 in FBS passing yards and pass yards per game, No. 3 in pass TDs, No. 5 in total offense, and No. 11 in pass efficiency … four different UW receivers – Jalen McMillan, Rome Odunze, Ja’Lynn Polk and Germie Bernard (2) – have scored a rushing TD this season … prior to this season, UW had had just eight games in its history in which two players had 100 receiving yards (including two last year) … this season, that has happened in seven games … Penix is currently No. 1 in the nation in pass plays of 10-plus (181 plays) while Rome Odunze leads the nation with 63 receptions of 10-plus yards … not counting the 4-game 2020 season, the Huskies have won 10 or more games in 5 of the last 7 seasons …
TELEVISION: The College Football Playoff Championship Game will air nationally on ESPN television, with Chris Fowler, Kirk Herbstreit, Holly Rowe & Molly McGrath providing the commentary.
RADIO: All Washington football games will air on the Washington Sports Network from Learfield, with Tony Castricone (play by play), former Husky tight end Cameron Cleeland (analyst) and former UW basketball player Elise Woodward (sidelines) on the call. Radio coverage begins four hours before kickoff on the network’s flagship station – Seattle’s SportsRadio KJR 93.3 FM – with “Husky Gameday” live from The Zone for Husky home games. Statewide coverage on the 12-station Washington Sports Network begins two hours before kickoff. The entire broadcast is available worldwide on the Huskies Gameday mobile app and the Varsity app. The UW broadcast will also air on SiriusXM channel 84. Additionally, ESPN Radio will carry a national broadcast, with Sean McDonough, Greg McElroy and Ian Fitzsimmons.
COURTESY WASHINGTON ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
