Michigan football suffered a setback in a national championship rematch against Washington on Saturday, losing 27-17. The Wolverines managed to overcome an early 14-point deficit to take a brief lead at 17-14, but were unable to score again as Washington secured two touchdowns in the fourth quarter. This defeat marks Michigan’s first loss in conference play, bringing their record to 4-2 (2-1 Big Ten), while Washington improved to the same record, avenging their January loss in the national championship.
The game started poorly for Michigan, as Washington jumped ahead 14-0 with touchdowns from Denzel Boston and Giles Jackson. Facing pressure, Michigan made a quarterback change, replacing Alex Orji with seventh-year senior Jack Tuttle. This substitution sparked a scoring drive that included a 39-yard touchdown run from Donovan Edwards, followed by a 45-yard field goal from Dominic Zvada, keeping the Wolverines in the fight.
After halftime, Michigan took the lead with a touchdown pass from Tuttle to Colston Loveland, bringing the score to 17-14. However, Washington responded with a field goal to tie the game before regaining the lead after a critical fumble by Tuttle, which set up a touchdown run by Jonah Coleman.
The game was Michigan’s first road test of the season, taking place in Seattle, and they struggled to handle the challenge. The Wolverines now face a 4-2 record under head coach Jim Moore, with losses to two fellow College Football Playoff contenders, Washington and Texas.
In key moments late in the game, Washington’s Grady Gross hit a field goal to extend their lead, and a crucial interception by Kamren Fabiculanan sealed the Wolverines’ fate. Michigan displayed flashes of potential but ultimately fell short as Washington’s defense held firm and capitalized on mistakes.
Overall, this game highlighted ongoing issues for Michigan’s offense, which still needs to refine its strategy as the season progresses.