SEATTLE — Although it is a rematch of last season's national title game, there has been quite a bit of change since that fateful January day for both the University of Michigan Wolverines and the University of Washington Huskies.
The head coaches of both teams departed in the offseason, one back to the professional ranks and the other to replace the sport's most successful head coach at the University of Alabama. Both teams also saw a fleet of players get selected in the NFL Draft, including eight in the first two rounds between the Wolverines and Huskies.
Michigan and Washington are now conference rivals and will face off Saturday for the first time as Big Ten foes. Here's how fans can tune in for the high-profile matchup, which will be broadcast live on KING 5.
How to watch UW vs. Michigan
Date: Oct. 5, 2024
Kick-off time: 4:30 p.m. PT
TV channel: KING 5/NBC
Location: Husky Stadium
Spread: Washington -1 (DraftKings)
Fans in western Washington can get a Husky-focused pre-game show that will start at 3 p.m. Saturday on KING 5. The show will be hosted by KING 5's Paul Silvi and former Husky quarterback Damon Huard. The show will also be available live on KING 5+ for those who want to stream the pre-game show.
How have Washington and Michigan done so far this season?
The Huskies are 3-2 on the season and come off a disappointing road loss at Rutgers, where the team outgained the Black Knights 521-299 in total yards but ultimately fell 21-18. Quarterback Will Rogers has been very efficient for Washington's offense with a 78.4% completion rate and 1,354 passing yards, not to mention 10 touchdowns and zero interceptions.
Flags have been a consistent issue for UW under new head coach Jedd Fisch, as UW ranks 120th out of 133 teams in its division with 8.6 penalties called against the Huskies per game. Limiting mistakes and stopping Michigan's strong rushing attack will be key to coming out ahead.
The Wolverines enter Saturday 4-1 and come off a strong win over USC last week in Ann Arbor. Michigan running back Donovan Edwards, who scored two early touchdowns in last season's national championship game, is back but the team's leading rusher in 2024 is actually Kalel Mullings with 540 yards and six touchdowns. UM has Alex Orji at quarterback, but he hands the ball off significantly more often than he drops back to pass.
Head coach Sherrone Moore, who was Jim Harbaugh's right-hand man on last season's national title team, is now the head coach at Michigan and has kept the team's style similar to the previous regime. This will be a physical football game, and if Michigan can slow down the UW passing attack, the Wolverines will have a much better chance at coming away with the win.
What is the weather forecast for the Washington-Michigan game on Saturday?
For the many thousands of fans expected to converge on Montlake for what should be close to a sell-out crowd Saturday, the most important news is that the rain showers coming down Friday are not expected to linger over western Washington into the late afternoon. People making their way to the game or those who choose to tailgate early might deal with a few showers, but KING 5's weather team expects the skies to clear Saturday, with lows hovering around 50 degrees and highs in the mid-to-upper 60s.
RELATED: Western Washington Weather Forecast
