SEATTLE — As the University of Washington gets ready to take on the University of Michigan in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game, we're taking a look at the series history between the two teams.
The last time the Washington Huskies and Michigan Wolverines played each other in a bowl game was more than 30 years ago when Michigan defeated Washington in the 1993 Rose Bowl. However, the teams have played as recently as 2021.
Notably, this isn't the first time the teams have played with a championship on the line. In 1992, the Huskies beat the Wolverines in the Rose Bowl to end the season undefeated and with a share of the national championship with Miami. Both teams were undefeated, and UW ranked No. 1 in the USA Today/CNN coaches poll while Miami got top honors in the Associated Press poll.
The teams, which will soon be in the same conference – the Big 10 – have met a total of 13 times. Four of those matchups were in the Rose Bowl. While Michigan holds an overall edge in the series, Washington has won five of the last nine.
There have been several notable UW-Michigan matchups over the years, beginning with the Huskies’ 1983 win, which UW considers one of the greatest regular-season non-conference victories in program history. On the game-winning drive, UW quarterback Steve Pelluer completed eight passes, ending in a 7-yard touchdown pass to Mark Pattison. The Huskies got the two-point conversion to beat Michigan 25-24. Pelluer finished the game with 14 straight completions.
UW’s last victory against Michigan was a nail-biter in 2001 where the Huskies won 23-18. Over one thrilling minute in the fourth quarter. UW cornerback Omare Lowe blocked a field goal that was returned for a touchdown and then returned an interception for a score. This game was also played three days before 9/11.
In the Huskies’ most recent matchup against Michigan in 2021, the Dawgs lost 31-11. UW quarterback Dylan Morris passed for 293 yards during the game.
Each of the meetings between UW, Michigan:
1953: Michigan wins 50-0 in Ann Arbor
1954: Michigan wins 14-0 in Seattle
1969: Michigan wins 45-7 in Ann Arbor
1970: Michigan wins 17-3 in Seattle
1978: No. 13 Washington upsets No. 4 Michigan 27-20 in the Rose Bowl
1981: No. 5 Michigan defeats No. 16 Washington 23-6 in the Rose Bowl
1983: Washington wins 25-24 in Seattle
1984: Washington wins 20-11 in Ann Arbor
1992: No. 2 Washington beats No. 4 Michigan 34-14 in the Rose Bowl
1993: No. 7 Michigan defeats No. 9 Washington 38-31 in the Rose Bowl
2001: No. 15 Washington beats Michigan 23-18, three days before 9/11
2002: Michigan beats Washington 31-29 in Ann Arbor
2020: Game was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021: Michigan wins 31-11 in Ann Arbor