Donovan Edwards had his breakout game for Michigan at just the right time - ESPN

HOUSTON — As Jim Harbaugh exited the platform where he hoisted the College Football Playoff National Championship trophy, celebrating the culmination of a 15-0 season, he broke into a huge smile when he saw a familiar face.

Kevin Edwards Sr., the father of running back Donovan Edwards, wrapped Harbaugh in a big hug. The two men talked about how proud they were of Donovan. Then they told each other they loved them.

It wasn't a surprise that Michigan tried to use its ground game to reduce Washington to a pulp in its 34-13 win. And that they did, running for 303 yards — Washington had 301 total yards — but Blake Corum had been the pace-setter all season for the Wolverines. On Monday night, it was Edwards who started off the game by electrifying NRG Stadium with 41- and 46-yard touchdown runs in the first quarter, becoming the first player since the BCS launched in 1998 to have multiple 40-yard touchdown runs in a championship game. He finished the game with 104 yards on just six carries.

Edwards and Corum (21 carries for 134 yards and 2 TDs) became the first pair of teammates with 100 rushing yards and two TDs each since Mark Ingram and Trent Richardson did the same against Texas in the 2010 BCS Championship game.

«I was so excited for Donovan because I just felt like he needed that,» Corum said. «He's back. Dono is back.»

Back to a star turn in a massive game, after months of waiting, which so far has been the story of Edwards' Michigan career.

Edwards averaged just 28.1 yards in 14 games this year before Monday night's performance. He had only three touchdowns, tying the three he had two years ago as a freshman when he had just 35 carries all season. He reached the 50-yard mark just twice this season, with exactly 50