Michigan Football: National Championship Bound
How We Got Here; CFP Title Game Jan. 8

Michigan is moving on to the National Championship! The No. 1-ranked Wolverines beat No. 4 Alabama, 27-20, in overtime in the Rose Bowl game on Jan. 1. The CFP National Championship game vs. No. 2 Washington will be held on Monday (Jan. 8) at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. Kickoff is slated for 6:30 p.m. CST, and the game will be broadcast live on ESPN.
For those who have already purchased tickets to the national championship through Michigan Athletics, the ticket office will communicate details on how to access tickets no later than Thursday, Jan. 4, at 5 p.m.
Tickets for the national championship will not be available for purchase to the general public.
SCROLL DOWN TO RELIVE EACH WEEK OF THE HISTORIC '23 SEASON
_________________________________

_________________________________


With his 17-yard rush in overtime, running back Blake Corum (25 this season, 56 in his career) added to his program single-season rushing touchdown record and passed Anthony Thomas (55) to own the outright career rushing touchdowns record at Michigan in a 27-20 overtime win over No. 4 Alabama in a College Football Playoff semifinal at the Rose Bowl. Mason Graham was named the Defensive MVP and J.J. McCarthy earned Offensive MVP honors.
Gallery: Football vs. Alabama
_________________________________

For a program-record third straight outright Big Ten championship, the No. 2-ranked Wolverines defeated No. 18 Iowa, 26-0, at Lucas Oil Stadium. Blake Corum rushed 16 times for 52 yards and two touchdowns to tie the U-M program record of 55 rushing touchdowns. Mike Sainristil earned game MVP honors after forcing a pair of fumbles and recording a sack.
Gallery: Football vs. Iowa - B1G Championship
_________________________________


The Wolverines used a pair of Blake Corum touchdown runs and a Rod Moore interception with 25 seconds left to clinch a 30-24 victory over No. 2 Ohio State in "The Game." The win, Michigan's third consecutive over its rival, secured the Big Ten East Division crown and a trip to the Big Ten Championship game.
Gallery: Football vs. Ohio State
_________________________________


Michigan recorded the program's 1,000th victory with a hard-fought 31-24 win at Maryland. The Wolverines’ defense held the Terrapins to just 15 rushing yards while recording a fumble recovery, two interceptions, a blocked punt, two safeties, five sacks and seven tackles for loss and contributed 10 points of its own. Mike Sainristil was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after collecting both second-half interceptions.
Gallery: Football at Maryland
_________________________________


Michigan pounded the ball on the ground with 32 straight runs to defeat No. 9 Penn State, 24-15, at Beaver Stadium. The defense held the Nittany Lions to just 74 passing yards and 4-of-14 on third down. The offense ran for 227 total yards, including a 26-carry, 145-yard effort from Blake Corum and a 10-carry, 52-yard effort from Donovan Edwards.
Gallery: Football at Penn State
_________________________________


Michigan dominated Purdue, 41-13, as the offense racked up 445 total yards while the defense held the Boilermakers to a mere 1-of-14 on third down and just 10 first downs. J.J. McCarthy and Roman Wilson recorded career days, with McCarthy totaling his second-highest career game total in passing yards (335) and Wilson surpassing career highs in both receptions (nine) and receiving yards (143). Blake Corum scored three rushing TDs to move into a tie for second place in Michigan history.
Gallery: Football vs. Purdue
_________________________________


Michigan dominated from start to finish, posting a 49-0 shutout over Michigan State to retain possession of the Paul Bunyan Trophy. The Wolverines’ 49-point margin of victory was the largest against the Spartans since 1947. The defense held MSU to only 190 total yards and 10 first downs and found the end zone early in the second half as Mike Sainristil picked off a pass and returned it 72 yards for the touchdown.
Gallery: Football at Michigan State
_________________________________


The Wolverines held the Hoosiers scoreless through the final 47 minutes in a 52-7 win at the Big House. The defense allowed just 91 yards through the last three quarters of the game and forced four turnovers. The offense scored on its final eight drives of the game, racking up 244 passing yards and 163 rushing yards.
Gallery: Football vs. Indiana
_________________________________


Michigan retained possession of the Little Brown Jug with a commanding 52-10 victory over Minnesota. The defense keyed the strong performance as Will Johnson and Keon Sabb returned interceptions for touchdowns. Mason Graham led the defense with six tackles, two TFLs and one sack, while the Wolverines allowed just 169 yards of offense and only 52 yards on the ground to the Gophers.
Gallery: Football at Minnesota
_________________________________


Michigan shined offensively, scoring the first 45 points of the game, en route to its first road win of the season. Temperatures were in the mid-90s for kickoff, but the heat proved insignificant for the Wolverines, as they posted 436 total yards with 249 on the ground against the Cornhuskers’ nation-best rushing defense. Blake Corum gained 74 rushing yards on 16 attempts and scored one rushing touchdown.
Gallery: Football at Nebraska
_________________________________


The Wolverines reeled off 31 unanswered points to open Big Ten Conference play with a 31-7 win over Rutgers. Michigan’s offense overwhelmed Rutgers with 415 total yards (214 passing, 201 rushing) in the effort. J.J. McCarthy completed 15-of-21 passes for 214 yards and one touchdown and added seven rushes for 51 yards. Blake Corum added 97 yards on 21 carries and found the end zone twice on rushing scores. Mike Sainristil came through with the big defensive play on a 71-yard interception return for a touchdown
Gallery: Football vs. Rutgers






















































































































































_________________________________


Michigan surged early in the second half to beat Bowling Green, 31-6, under the lights at Michigan Stadium. After committing three turnovers offensively in the first half, the Wolverines took advantage of two BGSU turnovers igniting their offense to 17 points in the first nine minutes of the third quarter to pull away. Blake Corum had 12 carries for a season-high 101 yards and two touchdowns.
Gallery: Football vs. Bowling Green
_________________________________


Michigan used a balanced scoring attack led by multiple scores from Blake Corum and Roman Wilson to defeat UNLV, 35-7. Corum carried the ball 15 times for 80 yards and scored three TDs while Wilson finished with four catches on 89 yards and two receiving scores. The defense held UNLV to just 61 rushing yards and scoreless until late in the fourth quarter. The Wolverines totaled 10 TFLs and five sacks, with Kenneth Grant having career highs with 2.5 TFL and 1.5 sacks.
Gallery: Football vs. UNLV






















































































































































_________________________________


J.J. McCarthy and Roman Wilson connected for three touchdowns as the Wolverines kicked off the season with a decisive 30-3 win over East Carolina. McCarthy completed 26-of-30 passes -- the second-best completion percentage (87%) in program history -- for 280 yards with three touchdowns. U-M’s shutout bid was spoiled by a 33-yard field goal with just five seconds remaining in the game.
Gallery: Football vs. East Carolina










































































































































_________________________________


