Key players set to return for Michigan football’s CFP title game rematch vs. Washington

ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The Michigan Wolverines will travel to Seattle this weekend to face the Washington Huskies in the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship rematch.

The Wolverines’ first road test of the season will be in a tough environment on Saturday (Oct. 5) at 7:30 p.m. inside Husky Stadium on NBC, as the oddsmakers have them as plus 2.5-point underdogs.

“I feel like you know we’re always ready, that’s, you know, all the coaches get us ready for, we’re going to have, you know, bigger, big away games later in the season, especially at the shoe (Ohio State) so you know just preparing for those big time games you know I always like playing away personally you know a different environment you know another place just to play but yeah we’re always you know all the coaches all the guys are always ready for that,” said Mason Graham.

The road trip will not be the Wolverines’ first visit to the venue, as they played there in 2001, falling 23-18.

They’ve had a few home-and-home matchups against the Huskies since 1953, but they last won in Seattle in 1970 during the Bo Schembechler era.

“Yeah, I’m with Mason,” said Kalel Mullings. “I like playing away as well, especially, you know, stadiums that I’ve never really been to before. That’s always cool, but as far as the team, we feel ready; we’re excited to take that road trip and go out there and get a win.”

Both teams have matched up against one another 14 times, with the men in maize being 9-5, winning three consecutive games, including the national championship.

There’s a lot of uncertainty, especially on the offensive side of the ball, as quarterback Alex Orji will be making his third start of his career and his first on the road inside an environment that’ll rattle some cages.

However, reports indicate that he and the Wolverines will receive reinforcements on both sides of the ball.

On offense, wide receiver Semaj Morgan, center Greg Crippen, and Colston Loveland are expected to play.

On the defensive side, cornerback Will Johnson, edge rusher Josaiah Stewart, and safety Makari Paige are all expected to play.

Keep an eye out for left tackle Myles Hinton, center Dom Giudice, and running back Jordan Marshall, who are all questionable to play.

Now, this version of the Huskies’ offense has a different wide receiving core, offensive line, head coach, and quarterback, but against Rutgers last week, quarterback Will Rodgers led his offense to 521 yards total.

He’s a 74.8% completion guy with 1,354 passing yards and 10 passing touchdowns with zero interceptions, but they are a between-the-20s type of team who can’t finish the deal by reaching pay dirt, and they’ve been shaky in the kicking game as well.

The crowd noise in a foreign stadium under the lights could cause havoc on a team working on getting aligned and running a proper offense. But head coach Sherrone Moore said he and the team are excited for the test.

“I think one, obviously, the venue that we’re going to be playing at is going to be pretty cool,” said Moore. “Everybody who seen it and looked at it knows it’s loud, know’s it’s fun. I never played there and never coached there, so that’s going be awesome, but I think on the road, you’re with a pack of people with that group, and it is a little different, but we’re excited to get on the road excited to get to work. I know they’re a good football team. Coach (Jedd) Fisch is a good football coach, but for us, we’re just ready to just keep pounding away.”

How do you think the Wolverines would fair as underdogs in their first road game of the 2024 season?