How many current Michigan, Washington players saw time in the national championship game?

Purple and gold will take on maize and blue when Washington hosts No. 10 Michigan Wolverines football Saturday evening in Seattle, marking a rematch of last season’s national championship game. Despite the Jan. 8 game in Houston happening only 271 days before this weekend’s showdown, there have been a lot of changes with each program.

Washington saw head coach Kalen DeBoer leave for Alabama four days after its 34-13 loss to Michigan at NRG Stadium in Houston, replacing seven-time national champion Nick Saban, whose last game as a college coach was a setback to Michigan in the Rose Bowl. Weeks later, Michigan’s head man, Jim Harbaugh, made the jump to the NFL with the Los Angeles Chargers.

Insert Jedd Fisch and Sherrone Moore at Washington and Michigan, respectively — Fisch from Arizona and Moore promoted from his post as offensive coordinator and line coach.

Both Fisch and Moore inherited rosters that look vastly different than last season, but especially the former. Michigan had a school-record 13 NFL Draft picks, and Washington saw 10 of its players get picked. In addition, the Huskies lost over two dozen athletes to the transfer portal, and Fisch replaced them with imports from his Arizona team (12) and elsewhere.

Michigan has 33 players on its current roster who saw the field in the national championship game, while Washington has only 19.

Washington saw two current players start back in January in linebacker Alphonzo Tuputala and cornerback Elijah Jackson. There were seven others who played on defense, while three backups saw time on offense and seven special teams players got in the game.

The Wolverines have nine on offense, nine on defense and 15 who played only on special teams.

Michigan offensive players

Two Michigan players started on offense in junior tight end Colston Loveland and junior wide receiver Tyler Morris. Morris didn’t have a catch, but Loveland played a key role with a big block on a touchdown run and a team-high 64 receiving yards on 3 receptions, including a 41-yard chunk gain.

Both of Michigan’s top two running backs — graduate Kalel Mullings and senior Donovan Edwards — also made big-time contributions. Edwards, of course, dashed for 41- and 46-yard touchdown runs to give the Wolverines a significant early lead.

The other Wolverines to see time on offense in the 15th game of last season are senior tight end Max Bredeson, junior quarterback Alex Orji, senior right guard Giovanni El-Hadi, fifth-year senior left tackle Myles Hinton, sophomore wide receiver Semaj Morgan.

The nine Michigan offensive players totaled 123 snaps on that side of the ball.

Full list of Michigan offensive players who played in the national championship game:
• TE Colston Loveland* — 46 offensive snaps
• WR Tyler Morris* — 26
• RB Donovan Edwards — 20
• TE Max Bredeson — 11
• RB Kalel Mullings — 8
• WR Semaj Morgan — 5
•  OL Myles Hinton — 4
• QB Alex Orji — 2
• OL Giovanni El-Hadi — 1

*Denotes starter

Michigan defenders

Michigan’s nine players on defense totaled 334 snaps and included four starters — senior safety Rod Moore, junior cornerback Will Johnson, junior defensive tackle Mason Graham and graduate safety Makari Paige. Moore, of course, is currently out as he recovers from an ACL injury, so he won’t suit up Saturday in Seattle.

Johnson was named Defensive MVP of the national title game, picking off a third-quarter pass to set the tone in the second half. Graham and Paige each had 3 tackles.

Junior defensive tackle Kenneth Grant didn’t start but made a major impact, notching Michigan’s only sack of the night. Despite getting home only once, the Wolverines’ defensive line roughed up quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who limped up the tunnel holding his ribs after the loss. Two EDGEs — senior Josaiah Stewart (5 tackles) and junior Derrick Moore — were a big part of that, as well, and junior linebacker Ernest Hausmann also contributed with 2 tackles.

The other Michigan defender that saw time is senior cornerback Ja’Den McBurrows, who logged 2 snaps. He’s out with a long-term injury this season, though.

Full list of Michigan defenders who played in the national championship game:
• CB Will Johnson* — 74 defensive snaps
• S Rod Moore* — 67
• DT Mason Graham* — 46
• DT Kenneth Grant — 37
• EDGE Derrick Moore — 37
• EDGE Josaiah Stewart — 36
• S Makari Paige* — 23
• LB Ernest Hausmann — 12
• CB Ja’Den McBurrows — 2

*Denotes starter

Michigan special teams

Here are the current Michigan players who played on special teams in the Jan. 8 game:
• WR Joe Taylor
• LB Christian Boivin
• P Tommy Doman
• LB Jimmy Rolder
• OL Andrew Gentry
• CB Zeke Berry
• LS William Wagner
• LB Micah Pollard
• RB Kalel Mullings
• EDGE Cameron Brandt
• WR Semaj Morgan
• OL Giovanni El-Hadi
• OL Jeffrey Persi
• WR Tyler Morris
• TE Colston Loveland
• CB Keshaun Harris
• TE Max Bredeson
• RB Leon Franklin
• DT Trey Pierce
• DT Kenneth Grant
• CB Will Johnson
• DT Mason Graham
• EDGE TJ Guy
• S Rod Moore
• RB Tavierre Dunlap
• EDGE Derrick Moore
• S Quinten Johnson