Michigan at Washington recap: QB change not enough in first road trip

SEATTLE – The Michigan Wolverines fell to 4-2 (2-1 Big Ten) on the season with a 27-17 loss to the Washington Huskies in the first road trip of the year. The contest had a little bit of everything, but ultimately was a game that was choked away by the visiting team.

For Michigan, the headline development was the second quarterback change of the season. Alex Orji was benched in the first half and gave way to graduate Jack Tuttle, who finished the day 10-of-18 for 98 yards with a touchdown pass, an interception and a fumble.

Here is the full recap of the night’s events from Husky Stadium.

First quarter

Michigan won the opening coin toss and deferred to the second half, starting the game on defense. On the first play from scrimmage, Washington quarterback Will Rogers hit Denzel Boston for a 36-yard completion, setting the Huskies up in U-M territory right off the bat. However, the Washington offense would sputter and settled for a 41-yard field goal attempt from Grady Gross, which was no good. Michigan took over at its 24-yard line with 12:03 on the clock in the first. After 8 plays and 31 yards gained, U-M was forced to punt it back to Washington, which took over on its own 17-yard line at the 7:54 mark.

The Huskies responded with a 13-play, 83-yard touchdown drive – scoring on a pass from 3 yards out from Rogers to Boston – to take a 7-0 lead with 2:38 to go in the quarter. The Wolverines gave up three third-down conversions on the drive, including a 39-yard reception by Giles Jackson. Michigan would go three-and-out on its next possession, punting back to Washington down to the UW 28-yard line with 1:07 to go. The Huskies went three-and-out as the quarter expired.

WASHINGTON 7, MICHIGAN 0

Second quarter

Michigan took over at its 21-yard line with 14:51 on the clock, but was off the field in five plays after gaining just 14 yards. Washington responded with a 4-play, 74-yard touchdown drive, hitting paydirt on a 16-yard pass from Rogers to Jackson, extending the lead to 14-0 at 9:38. With the offense sputtering, Michigan benched Orji and turned to Tuttle, who led a 7-play, 75-yard scoring drive that was capped off by a 39-yard touchdown run from Donovan Edwards, his third against the Huskies in the year 2024. After the extra point, U-M had trimmed the lead to 14-7 with 5:25 left.

The QB change provided a jolt for the defense, too. Washington went three-and-out and punted back to the Wolverines, who took over at the 17-yard line. The offense went 56 yards in 8 plays and cashed in a 45-yard field goal from Dominic Zvada to trim the lead to 14-10 in favor of Washington with 1:49 to go in the half.

Washington drove the length of the field just before halftime, but a field goal attempt from 28 yards out was blocked as time expired.

WASHINGTON 14, MICHIGAN 10

Third quarter

Michigan got the ball to start the second half with Tuttle back in at quarterback, and its momentum continued. U-M marched 75 yards in 11 plays and capped things off with an 8-yard touchdown reception by Colston Loveland to take its first lead of the night at 17-14 after the extra point (8:38). Washington drove the ball on its next possession 27 yards in 7 plays before punting back to Michigan with the ball rolling into the end zone. U-M took over at its 20-yard line with 5:29 on the clock. However, the Wolverines would go three-and-out, punting back to Washington to the Husky 44-yard line at the 4:38 mark.

The Huskies used the rest of the clock up to get down to the 12-yard line as the quarter expired, knocking on the door heading into the final frame.

MICHIGAN 17, WASHINGTON 14

Fourth quarter

Mason Graham and TJ Guy combined for a sack on the first play of the fourth, then Washington gained 9 yards and settled for a 28-yard field goal to tie the game at 17-all with 13:38 to play. The Wolverines went three-and-out on their next drive after Edwards slipped on a sure first-down run and Marlin Klein was interfered with, but no call. Michigan would punt back to Washington, who took over at their 32-yard line with 12:04 to play.

The Huskies were gashing U-M through the air, but then it cost them when linebacker Ernest Hausmann picked off Rogers – his first INT in 269 pass attempts this year – to set Michigan back up at its 20-yard line with 10:11 to go. However, Tuttle would fumble the ball back to Washington a few plays later, setting UW up at the U-M 32-yard line with 8:08 to play. Four plays later, they punched the ball into the end zone to re-take the lead at 24-17 with 6:22 left on the clock.

Five plays and some crazy officiating moments later, Tuttle threw an interception, giving Washington the ball back at the 41-yard line with 3:24 to play. The Huskies would tack a 32-yard field goal onto the board, extending the lead to 27-17 with 1:06 to play. Michigan could not get anything going on the ensuing drive with the clock running out.

FINAL: WASHINGTON 27, MICHIGAN 17

Michigan at Washington final box score