Revenge and Playoff Hopes: Michigan vs Washington Game Preview

Written by Carter Ball

When Michigan and Washington play in Ann Arbor this weekend, it will be a matchup of Big Ten teams hoping to go into their end-of-season rivalry games with room for error. These two teams have a lot of history, with matchups in three of the last four seasons prior to 2025.

Prior Matchups

2021

Blake Corum shined against Washington in 2021

The most recent game between the two teams at Michigan Stadium came in 2021. In this matchup, it was the Wolverines that took control in what served as a momentum booster for the group’s magical 2021 season. Blake Corum ran wild, and Michigan stomped the Huskies 31-10 in front of a maize-out crowd.

2023

Michigan beat Washington to win the National Championship in 2023

Technically played in 2024, these two teams played in the 2023 National Championship in what was a decisive Michigan victory. Washington kept it close for a while, but Michigan took over at the line of scrimmage in the 4th quarter in a 34-13 spanking of the Huskies.

2024

Former Michigan QB Jack Tuttle in last year’s matchup against the Huskies

The Huskies got their revenge last year in Seattle in a close victory against the Wolverines. For some reason, Michigan switched between Alex Orji and Jack Tuttle at quarterback mid-game in this matchup and struggled to move the ball through the air in a 27-17 loss. This was a massive turning point for Jedd Fisch, who hopes to extend his personal winning streak against the Wolverines to two on Saturday.

Season Implications

A Michigan win would likely set the group up to face #1 Ohio State at home with a 9-2 record, making the matchup a win-and-in game for the Wolverines. A loss against Washington, however, would likely eliminate any of Michigan’s playoff hopes, taking away from the importance of a potential fifth straight win against the Buckeyes.

For Washington, a loss against Michigan would put the team in a similar situation at a likely 9-2 going into the group’s season finale against Oregon. A win against Michigan, however, likely guarantees the Huskies a spot in the playoffs, as a 10-2 resume with losses against Ohio State and Oregon respectively would likely be rewarded by the committee.

In a season full of upsets, nothing is guaranteed. However, this game is simple. A Michigan win likely sets up a playoff play-in game in Ann Arbor against Ohio State next month, and a Washington win clinches the Huskies’ spot in the playoffs. This is going to be one of the most important games of the season and an elite matchup between two teams that are incredibly familiar with each other.

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