ESPN College GameDay: Picks for College Football Playoff National Championship

The final day on the college football calendar has arrived, and the two best teams in college football have been decided: Michigan and Washington. However, only one can walk away with the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship.

The key matchup for Monday’s blockbuster main event is Husky star quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and how he fares against the Wolverines’ top-ranked defense. Penix Jr., the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy this year, has been one of the most productive players in the country this season with 4,648 yards and 35 touchdowns.

Meanwhile, Michigan comes into the national title game ranked No. 1 in the country in total defense. The Wolverines have allowed 16 total touchdowns all season long, which averages to 10.2 points per game — also the best in the country.

Two very striking statistics, however, see the Wolverines’ defense allowing an NCAA-low 243.1 yards per game, while also allowing 150 yards per game (No. 2) on average through the air. Penix Jr. is averaging 332 yards passing per game, so it will be interesting to see how the two parties match up.

Offensively of Michigan, quarterback JJ McCarthy finished 10th in Heisman Trophy voting this year helping the Wolverines to a 14-0 record heading into Monday’s game. He has 2,851 passing yards and 22 touchdowns along with 171 rushing yards and three touchdowns on the ground.

On top of that, the Huskies can expect a healthy dose of running back Blake Corum, who has carried a massive load for the Wolverines during 2023 coming into the national title game with 237 carries for 1,111 yards and 25 touchdowns.

Now, McCarthy and Corum have the Wolverines on the doorstep of a national championship. If their defense hold their end of the bargain — as they have all season long — the Wolverines have the opportunity to stand atop the college football mountain in the final year of the CFP’s original format.

Before opening kickoff, however, the ESPN College GameDay crew made their final picks before the CFP championship game:

Full CGD analyst picks for CFP National Championship: 

College Football Playoff National Championship Pres. by AT&T — Michigan Wolverines vs. Washington Huskies: Pat McAfee stands alone in his pick to choose Michael Penix Jr. and the Washington Huskies. Everyone else says the Wolverines will be partying like it’s 1997 by the end of the night.

Final tally:

Desmond Howard: Michigan

Pat McAfee: Washington

Lee Corso: Michigan

Joey Galloway: Michigan