HOUSTON (AP) — Michigan heads into an uncertain future after winning its first national championship in 26 years. Who stays, who goes and is a repeat possible in an expanded and loaded Big Ten that will include the Washington team the Wolverines beat 34-13 in the national championship game? There also could be NCAA sanctions coming. The biggest question after Michigan wrapped up a 15-0 season is the status of coach Jim Harbaugh. He is the top target for NFL teams with head coach openings. Quarterback J.J. McCarthy is among players who are considering whether to enter the NFL draft or return.
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Keisei Tominaga scored 19 points to lead Nebraska, which opened up an 11-point halftime lead then held off two second half surges to upset No. 1 Purdue 88-72. Nebraska last defeated a No. 1 team 41 years ago, when it beat Missouri 67-51. The Huskers last win over a No. 1 in Lincoln was a 74-73 victory over Michigan in 1962. Reink Mast had 18 points for Nebraska, Wilcher scored 16 and Juwan Gray finished with 12. Mason Gillis led Purdue with 16 points, Zach Edey had 15 points, Fletcher Loyer had 13 and Smith and Jones finished with 10 each.
PISCATAWAY, N.J. (AP) — Mawot Mag scored 13 points to lead five players in double figures and Rutgers picked up its first Big Ten Conference win of the season with a 66-57 victory over Indiana. Mag added eight rebounds, four assists and three steals for the Scarlet Knights (9-6, 1-3). Aundre Hyatt made two 3-pointers and scored 12 with six rebounds to help Rutgers beat the Hoosiers (11-5, 3-2) for the ninth time in the last 11 matchups. Austin Williams, Derek Simpson and reserve Jamichael Davis all scored 10 for Rutgers. Kel’el Ware had 13 points and a career-high 17 rebounds, pacing Indiana with his sixth double-double of the season
HOUSTON (AP) — Michigan’s three-year climb to the summit of college football ended with its 34-13 over Washington in the College Football Playoff championship game. Now the Wolverines and their fans wait and see if Jim Harbaugh stays or goes. Harbaugh deflected all questions about his future, but decision time is drawing near as NFL franchises begin or consider searching for new coaches. Harbaugh looked into NFL jobs the last two years before deciding to stay at Michigan. It’s possible he won’t this time.
HOUSTON (AP) — Will Johnson, Mike Sainristil and No. 1 Michigan’s smothering defense held Michael Penix Jr. and the prolific Washington offense to one touchdown in a 34-13 victory in the College Football Playoff national championship game. The Wolverines came into the game first in yards allowed per game and points allowed per game, but had never faced a dynamic, deep passing game like Washington’s. They turned the Huskies into a dink-and-dunk attack and came up with two key interceptions. Penix, the Heisman runner-up, passed for 255 yards on 51 attempts.
HOUSTON (AP) — Michigan was voted a unanimous No. 1 in the final Associated Press college football poll of the season after the Wolverines beat Washington to win their first national title in 26 years. The Wolverines received all 61 first-place votes. Washington was second, the Huskies’ best final ranking since finishing No. 2 in 1991. That year, Washington was No. 1 in the final coaches’ poll to claim its only national title. Texas, Georgia and Alabama rounded out the top five. Florida State, left out of the playoff after a perfect regular season, finished tied with Oregon for sixth.
UNDATED (AP) — Caitlin Clark of Iowa is The Associated Press national player of the week in women’s college basketball for the second time this season. She hit a buzzer-beater to help the Hawkeyes top Michigan State and then followed it up with her 14th career triple-double in a win over Rutgers. The runner-up was Elizabeth Kitley of Virginia Tech.
UNDATED (AP) — The preseason Associated Press college football poll held up pretty well in 2023. The final AP Top 25 was released early after Michigan defeated Washington in the College Football Playoff national title game to finish No. 1. Seventeen teams that began the season ranked in the Top 25 finished in the rankings and only eight did not. Typically, about 10 or 11 teams that start the season ranked end the season unranked. How will the Top 25 teams look heading into next season?
