HOUSTON — The college football national championship game is set and here's everything you need to know leading up to the matchup between Michigan (14-0) and Washington (14-0).
How the teams got here
In the first of two semifinal games on Monday, the Wolverines beat Alabama in an overtime thriller in the Rose Bowl, 27-20. Running back Blake Corum scored the game-winning touchdown before Michigan came up with a defensive stop on fourth down to seal the win.
In the Sugar Bowl, Washington held on to beat Texas, 37-31, behind 430 yards passing and two touchdowns from star quarterback Michael Penix Jr.
History of the programs
With the win in the Rose Bowl, Michigan punched their ticket to the national championship game for the first time since 1997. It is also the first victory for Michigan in the College Football Playoff era, having lost the previous two seasons to Georgia and TCU in the semifinals.
For the Huskies, this is also their first victory in the CFP after losing to Alabama in their first appearance in 2016. Washington will be seeking their first national championship since 1991.
Washington is in the final year of the PAC-12 conference. They will be moving to the Big Ten conference beginning next season.
Date and time of the game and how to watch
The national championship game will take place on Monday, Jan. 8 at 7:30 p.m. The matchup is held at NRG Stadium in Houston, the home of the Texans of the NFL, and it will be televised on ESPN.
The Wolverines open as a -4.5 point favorite over the Huskies, with the over/under set at 55.5.
Can you still buy tickets?
Yes, you can still buy tickets for the big game but expect to spend a big amount. On Ticketmaster, the official ticketing partner of the CFP, the cheapest seat available is $1,100.
According to SeatGeek, the cheapest ticket available right now is $959, and on StubHub, the cheapest ticket currently stands at $820.
Expect flights and hotels to fill up quickly as well as fans begin to make their purchases and arrangements for the national championship game.
MORE FROM WTOL 11:
