Here's what we learned from the Huskies' 34-13 loss to the Wolverines in the national championship game

HOUSTON — The University of Washington fell short of a national championship.

The top-ranked Michigan Wolverines overpowered the Huskies for a 34-13 victory in the College Football Playoff National Game on Monday night.

Here are three takeaways from the Huskies loss in the big game.

Wolverines run wild

This was an old-fashioned smashmouth gameplan for the Wolverines, who churned through the Huskies' vulnerable defense.

At one point, Michigan averaged 19 yards per carry before Washington's defense stabilized and held the Wolverines' multi-pronged rushing attack to a much more palatable four yards per carry. 

Wolverines running back Donovan Edwards, who had just three rushing touchdowns this season, was the biggest beneficiary from a dominant Michigan offensive line and leaky Huskies front seven.

Edwards rushed for not one, but two touchdowns of over 40 yards - in the first quarter.

Here's Edwards' first touchdown that broke the game open.

And here's Edwards' second score, just eight minutes later. He had 87 rushing yards on his first two carries of the game.

Penix Jr. held in check

Washington edged out Texas in the Sugar Bowl last week, thanks to an otherworldly 400-yard performance from quarterback Michael Penix Jr. 

Michigan's second-ranked passing defense was having none of that on Monday night.

The Heisman runner-up looked uncomfortable, frazzled by the constant pressure Michigan's front seven was placing on the Huskies. 

Penix Jr. bungled one of the Huskies' best opportunities to score in the first half when he had receiver Rome Odunze wide open but an errant throw forced the star pass-catcher to lose sight of the football. That could have been a touchdown if Penix Jr. made an accurate throw down the sideline.

Penix Jr's second interception late in the fourth quarter ended the Huskies' fantastic season.

Penix Jr. had a tremendous season for the Huskies to lead them to the national championship, plenty good enough to earn him a first-round selection in the NFL Draft in April. But he could not break down Jim Harbaugh's defense when his team needed it most.

Resilient Huskies battled but fell short

Time and time again the Huskies battled from deficits and gutted out close victories all season.

Entering Monday night's game the Huskies had won seven games by seven points or fewer in 2023. The cardiac Huskies had won five consecutive close games to get to the championship game on Monday night, after all.

Resiliency was the name of the Huskies game.

When Michigan appeared to be on its way to an overpowering blowout victory in the first quarter, Washington steadied itself and fought back into the game.

The Huskies found themselves trailing by just seven points at halftime, despite being thoroughly outplayed.

The Huskies' second-half magic wore out this time around, as the Wolverines pulled away to win its first national championship in over two decades.

But, still, we need to tip the highest of caps to a Huskies team that showed an incredible amount of heart all season.