Key Michigan & Washington Players Not Playing in the National Championship
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 01: The Michigan Wolverines celebrate with The Leishman Trophy after beating the Alabama Crimson Tide 27-20 in overtime to win the CFP Semifinal Rose Bowl Game at Rose Bowl Stadium on January 01, 2024 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Wolverines fans are gearing up for the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship game, which will have No. 1 Michigan going up against No. 2 Washington. The game takes place at NRG Stadium in Houston at 7:30 p.m. ET on Monday (Jan. 8) and will air on ESPN and the ESPN App. But, not everyone will be on the field for this game. Here are some key Michigan and Washington players not playing in the National Championship.
If you’re wondering why some players won’t be participating, it’s mainly for two reasons. For one, some of these players are injured. The other reason is that some players who want to declare for the NFL or play for a different university next season don’t want to risk getting injured in this final game. In a NIL reality, these players could forgo some big bucks if they were to get injured, too. Here are the players not playing in the National Championship game, via Covers.com.
Michigan Wolverines
Two big players that are out for Michigan are offensive lineman GameZak Zinter and wide receiver Karmello English. Zinter, a senior, suffered a broken tibia and fibula during the Wolverines’ last game against the Ohio State Buckeyes. Sadly, he’ll be out. But, he’s appearing in the 2024 NFL draft, so stay tuned. English, a freshman, is dealing with an undisclosed injury. The last game he played with the Wolverines was Oct. 14 against the Indiana Hoosiers. Other guys also out for the Wolverines include Logan Forbes, CJ Stokes and Davis Warren.
Washington Huskies
Some players out for the Huskies are offensive guard Gaard Memmelaar and running back Cameron Davis. Memmelaar, a sophomore, has been out all season. He reportedly was injured during fall practice. Davis, a junior, is out due to a lower body injury, which he suffered during a practice. He did play Washington’s No. 26 game against Washington State but won’t play the championship game. Others out for Washington include Dillon Johnson and Sam Adams II.
7 Hilarious Football Fan Superstitions Shared by Redditors
Football fans are gearing up for the upcoming NFL season. Some fans are so passionate that their enthusiasm borders on religious fervor. And yes, they pray for their team. Beyond their prayers, they also have some superstitions. You know the types: they go barechested in zero degree weather and paint themselves in their favorite team’s colors. Their mood for the week depends on if their team won or lost. There are fans and then there devout believers. Those are the ones who get a bit too superstitious.
Football fans superstitions
You know that person who stays in the same spot throughout an entire game, and when their team gives up possession they change positions? That’s who we’re talking about. So, when things are going well, they’re practically immobile. They won’t step away for food or even use the bathroom. Why? Because they can’t risk “messing up the flow.” On the other hand, if things are not going as planned, they might wander around the living room persistently in search of a lucky seat where good things could potentially happen. Of course, for some fans, their ritualistic and superstitious behaviors might just be traditions, regardless of whether their team comes out on top or experiences a loss.
From wearing a specific jersey to eating a particular snack, these rituals are believed to bring luck and influence the game. For instance, some fans might have a lucky pre-game routine, like wearing mismatched socks or doing a little victory dance before kickoff. Even food choices play a role, with some fans only eating certain foods while watching the game, like nachos or chicken wings, believing that deviating from this menu might lead to bad luck. It’s these quirky and often amusing superstitions that add an extra layer of excitement to the football fan experience.
Take a look at a few of these superstition-filled traditions that football fans have been sharing on Reddit.
Anne Erickson started her radio career shortly after graduating from Michigan State University and has worked on-air in Detroit, Flint, Toledo, Lansing and beyond. As someone who absolutely loves rock, metal and alt music, she instantly fell in love with radio and hasn’t looked back. When she’s not working, Anne makes her own music with her band, Upon Wings, and she also loves cheering on her favorite Detroit and Michigan sports teams, especially Lions and MSU football. Anne is also an award-winning journalist, and her byline has run in a variety of national publications. You can also hear her weekends on WRIF.