The No. 1 University of Michigan will compete against No. 2 University of Washington on Monday night in the College Football Playoff National Championship.
Both teams are unbeaten this year at 14-0, but Michigan has had an especially bumpy road, losing its head coach, Jim Harbaugh, twice. The university suspended Harbaugh for the first three games of the season as the NCAA investigated potential recruiting violations.
Then the Big 10 conference suspended Harbaugh for the final three games of the regular season, amid allegations that Michigan stole other teams’ signals. Harbaugh denies any wrongdoing, and praises his team’s focus during the highly-publicized controversies.
“Everything is right here in front of us,” Harbaugh said at a recent NCAA news conference. “Coming down the straightaway like a thoroughbred…can see the finish line…got the blinders on.”
Washington enters the contest with an elite passing attack and a knack for winning close games.
The College Football Playoff National Championship will kick off at 7:30 p.m. ET Monday from NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. The game will be broadcast on ESPN, and streamed at select MJR and Emagine theaters throughout metro Detroit.