Kirk Herbstreit reveals keys for Michigan, Washington to win national championship

With two different styles of play, Michigan vs. Washington presents an intriguing national championship matchup. It’s sure to be an exciting matchup at NRG Stadium in Houston, and Kirk Herbstreit provided the keys to victory with just over 48 hours to go until kickoff.

Herbstreit joined Scott Van Pelt at halftime of Saturday’s Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Baltimore Ravens game and discussed what each team has to do to bring home a title. Washington is known for its high-powered passing game, led by Heisman Trophy finalist Michael Penix Jr. at quarterback. He had a big game against Texas in the Sugar Bowl with 430 passing yards and two touchdowns to lead the Huskies to the national title game.

If he can get comfortable, Herbstreit said that will be essential for Washington to find success against a tough Michigan defense.

“If you start with Washington and Michael Penix, it’s obviously going to come down to what the offensive line can do and giving him time,” Herbstreit said. “Michigan is as good as anybody in the country with Jesse Minter dialing up disguise and making it look like the pressure’s coming from one spot, then it comes from another. We saw Alabama struggle with that with the five sacks that they had in the first half.

“And now they’re going to have to do the same thing because as we know, if you give Michael Penix time to set his feet, he doesn’t just have Rome Odunze. He’s got a bunch of different receivers he can throw the football to, and I think that’ll be the big key on that side of the football.”

Michigan, meanwhile, uses a ground-and-pound style to punch opponents in the face with its running game. Blake Corum leads that charge, setting a program record with 25 rushing touchdowns this season with Donovan Edwards serving as the other half of the two-headed monster in the backfield.

Offensive line play will be important to kickstart the rushing attack, Herbstreit said. In addition, the passing game will benefit from the threat Corum and Co. present.

“For Michigan, it’s [the] ability to win the line of scrimmage, the physicality with Blake Corum and that offensive line, the pre-snap movement to try to create confusion,” Herbstreit said. “They did a great job of confusing Alabama, who had a month to get ready. They’ll try to confuse this Washington defense to put J.J. McCarthy in some very favorable matchups where you can get the play-action pass going off of Corum and that run game.”

It’s shaping up to be quite a battle for the national championship. Kickoff is set for Monday at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN. Herbstreit and Chris Fowler will have the call.