IRVING, TEXAS (Jan. 9, 2024) - The National Football Foundation (NFF) & College Hall of Fame today recognized No. 1 Michigan (15-0) as the recipient of the 2023 NFF MacArthur Bowl National Championship Trophy following the team's 34-13 victory over No. 2 Washington (14-1) yesterday in the College Football Playoff (CFP) National Championship Presented by AT&T before a sellout crowd of 72,808 fans at NRG Stadium in Houston.
 
The name of the 2023 Wolverines will now be etched alongside the greatest teams in college football history on the MacArthur Bowl Championship Trophy, including the 1997 Michigan team. The trophy is housed at the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta.
 
"On behalf of the National Football Foundation, our 12,000 members, our Board of Directors and Chairman Archie Manning, we are extremely proud to recognize Coach Jim Harbaugh and the Michigan Wolverines," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. "This trophy was started in 1959 by General Douglas MacArthur, the great sportswriter Grantland Rice and legendary coach Red Blaik, and etched on the side of this stadium replica in all silver are all of the subsequent national champions. As the keepers of the history and the legacy of the sport of football, we are exceptionally pleased to maintain this unique tradition by etching the 2023 Michigan team on its walls."
 
Michigan running backs Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards led a Michigan rushing effort that amassed 303 yards, posting 134 and 104 rushing yards, respectively, and each finding the endzone twice. The rushing effort set a CFP title game record, and Corum claimed the game's offensive MVP honors. Wolverine defensive back Will Johnson was named Defensive MVP honors after making a key interception on the first snap of the second half, changing the momentum of the game.
 
Quarterback J.J. McCarthy completed 10 passes for 140 yards and rushed for 31 yards. Defensive back Mike Sainristil, who led the team with eight tackles, sealed the victory with an interception returned 81 yards with just 3:53 remaining in the game. Coach Harbaugh has led Michigan to a 40-3 record during the past three seasons, including berths in the CFP Playoff each season, and an overall record of 88-25 since becoming head coach in 2015.
 
With the win, Michigan claimed its second MacArthur Bowl, having captured the trophy in 1997, under College Football Hall of Fame head coach Lloyd Carr. The title also marks the school's first outright crown since 1948. Michigan now joins Alabama (3), Clemson (2), Georgia (2), LSU (1) and Ohio State (1) as the only programs that have claimed the CFP title. The Wolverines' 15 victories mark the most wins by a school in Big Ten history and only the sixth time in history that a team has achieved 15-wins. A team in the current Big Ten has now claimed the trophy 14 times. 
 
Presented to every national champion since 1959, the MacArthur Bowl represents the pinnacle of team achievement in college sports, and each year during its 65-year history a new name has been etched alongside the greatest teams of all time. The trophy, a replica of a football stadium, features archways with space to engrave the names of 100 teams and miniature goal posts. The trophy was the gift of an anonymous donor, who commissioned Tiffany & Co. to craft it from 400 ounces of silver, in honor of early NFF leader General Douglas MacArthur. It took eight months to make, and the trophy features MacArthur's famous quote: "There is no substitute for victory."
 
Twenty-four different schools have claimed the trophy at least once during its 65-year history. Alabama has hoisted it the most, claiming it 10 times. Notre Dame is second with five wins while Ohio State, Miami (FL), Southern California and Texas have each etched their names four times on the trophy. Clemson, Florida, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Nebraska and Oklahoma each boast three trophies. Michigan, Michigan State and Penn State have each won the trophy twice.
 
During college football's Poll Era, the NFF MacArthur Bowl Committee selected the recipient of the trophy. With the advent of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) in 1998, the national championship game has determined which team claimed the MacArthur Bowl, a tradition that continues under the College Football Playoff.
 
First presented in 1959, NFF National Champions and MacArthur Bowl recipients include: Syracuse 1959, Minnesota 1960, Alabama 1961, Southern California 1962, Texas 1963, Notre Dame 1964, Michigan State 1965, Michigan State/Notre Dame 1966, Southern California 1967, Ohio State 1968, Texas 1969, Ohio State/Texas 1970, Nebraska 1971, Southern California 1972, Notre Dame 1973, Southern California 1974, Oklahoma 1975, Pittsburgh 1976, Notre Dame 1977, Alabama 1978, Alabama 1979, Georgia 1980, Clemson 1981, Penn State 1982, Miami (FL) 1983, Brigham Young 1984, Oklahoma 1985, Penn State 1986, Miami (FL) 1987, Notre Dame 1988, Miami (FL) 1989, Colorado 1990, Washington 1991, Alabama 1992, Florida State 1993, Nebraska 1994, Nebraska 1995, Florida 1996, Michigan 1997, Tennessee 1998, Florida State 1999, Oklahoma 2000, Miami (FL) 2001, Ohio State 2002, LSU 2003, Vacated 2004, Texas 2005, Florida 2006, LSU 2007, Florida 2008, Alabama 2009, Auburn 2010, Alabama 2011, Alabama 2012, Florida State 2013, Ohio State 2014, Alabama 2015, Clemson 2016, Alabama 2017, Clemson 2018, LSU 2019, Alabama 2020, Georgia 2021, Georgia 2022 and Michigan 2023.
 
ABOUT The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame
Founded in 1947 with early leadership from General Douglas MacArthur, legendary Army coach Earl "Red" Blaik and immortal journalist Grantland Rice, The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame is a non-profit educational organization that runs programs designed to use the power of amateur football in developing scholarship, citizenship, and athletic achievement in young people. With 120 chapters in 47 states, NFF programs include the criteria, selection and induction of members of the College Football Hall of Fame; the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of Fame in Atlanta; Future For Football; The William V. Campbell Trophy®; the NFF National Scholar-Athlete Class Presented by Fidelity Investments; the NFF National High School Academic Excellence Awards presented by the Rose Bowl Legacy Foundation & Hatchell Cup presented by the Original Bob's Steak & Chop House; and a series of programs and initiatives to honor the legends of the past and inspire the leaders of the future. NFF corporate partners include Bruin Capital, Catapult, Delta Air Lines, Fidelity Investments, Hanold Associates Executive Search, Jostens, Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, New York Athletic Club, Pasadena Tournament of Roses and the Sports Business Journal. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @NFFNetwork and learn more at footballfoundation.org.