College Football Playoff: Michigan Wolverines and Washington Huskies advance to

CNN
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The Michigan Wolverines and Washington Huskies have advanced to the College Football Playoff National Championship where they’ll face off in Houston on January 8 in the title game.

In Monday’s two semifinals, No. 1 Michigan edged the No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide in overtime 27-20 in the Rose Bowl while No. 2 Washington defeated the No. 3 Texas Longhorns 37-31 in the Sugar Bowl.

Here are some of the highlights from Monday’s semifinals.

In a hard-fought affair, Michigan and Alabama found themselves tied at 20-20 after regulation, forcing the contest known as “the Granddaddy of Them All” into overtime for just the second time in the game’s illustrious history.

After Michigan running back Blake Corum scored a touchdown to put his team in front, the Wolverines defense stopped Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe on fourth down at the 3-yard line to advance to the national championship game on January 8 in Houston.

Michigan, which became the first college football program to reach 1,000 all-time wins earlier this season, will seek its first national championship since 1997, when the Wolverines shared the title with the Nebraska Cornhuskers. The NCAA credits Michigan with nine football championships, while Michigan claims 11.

This is the third season in a row that the Wolverines have made the College Football Playoff but Michigan failed to make it past the semifinal stage in each of the last two years.

A national title for Michigan would cap a memorable season, one that has seen controversy.

To start the year, head coach Jim Harbaugh was suspended for the team’s first three games, a self-imposed sanction by Michigan’s athletics department because of NCAA recruiting violations. The NCAA, which has an open investigation into the matter, could potentially choose to add additional penalties in that case.

The NCAA opened a second investigation into the Wolverines in October for alleged sign-stealing, leading to the suspension and subsequent resignation of Michigan football analyst Connor Stalions, and linebackers coach Chris Partidge was fired.

Harbaugh has denied he had any knowledge of any scheme to steal other teams’ signs, but accepted a three-game suspension – upping his total games away from Michigan’s sideline to six.

Both NCAA investigations into Michigan are ongoing.

Michigan (14-0) was led Monday as it has throughout the season by quarterback J.J McCarthy, who threw three touchdown passes against Alabama. The potential first-round pick in the 2024 NFL draft completed 17 of 27 passes.

Corum also scored the Wolverines’ first touchdown and Michigan’s defense frustrated Milroe by sacking him five times in the first half and…