NEW ORLEANS: With the Sugar Bowl just over a day away, sixth-year quarterback Michael Penix Jr. of Washington announced a players-only meeting as their moment approached.
With edge rusher Edefuan Ulofoshio, he strode to the front of the room on two surgically repaired knees to convey a message. It was five hours until the new year. Just a short stroll away was Bourbon Street. The town was overrun with families. To Washington’s dismay, Texas supporters were also spotted everywhere at the Huskies team hotel.
It was time for them to concentrate. They needed to block out distractions, but the midnight fireworks downtown made it difficult to sleep early. He reminded them that they’d been laboring their entire lives for a chance like the one they’d had.
They’d won their previous nine games by 10 points or less, with three of them requiring second-half comebacks.
It had all led them to this point. He told them to get ready.
Penix was the most prepared, connecting with Ja’Lynn Polk for 77 yards on his second pass attempt and finishing with 430 yards and two scores to lead Washington to a 37-31 victory over Texas in a College Football Playoff semifinal.
“We just keep following him,” Ulofoshio explained.
A portion of Washington’s seasoned team has undergone three different head coaches and a disappointing campaign. Penix has undergone even more. He was a star at Indiana before injuries ended his career and forced him into the transfer portal, where he met coach Kalen DeBoer of Washington, a former offensive coordinator for Indiana, again before the 2018 season.
Due to injury, his first four seasons all he ended prematurely. In 2018, as a freshman, he tore his ACL. He dislocated the AC joint in his right non-throwing shoulder a year later. In 2020, he had another ACL tear after guiding the Hoosiers to the top 10 in the polls. He missed time due to a dislocated shoulder joint in 2021.
It caused him to question himself and have mental health issues, almost making him give up on football.
It brought me to this location. I met coach DeBoer thanks to my time at Indiana, and our friendship has grown tremendously over the years,” Penix remarked. “And I have no desire to perform for anyone else.”
After his career’s high point, Penix reflected on those days and recalled that portion of his narrative while also admitting the challenge of his father’s lack of vision and desire for him to start his career at Indiana.
At the bottom was him. At the top was him. With six receptions for 125 yards, receiver Rome Odunze led the team. “He was at the bottom again, and here he is at the top, shining again in the biggest moment,” Odunze said.
Ulofoshio remarked, “He deserves this.”
Penix repeatedly created rainbows that nearly reached the Superdome’s roof, putting Washington on the verge of winning its first national championship since 1991 and securing the program’s first College Football Playoff victory. By the way, who did it defeat to share the national title in 1991? Michigan, whom it will play once more for the title in Houston the following week, before joining the Wolverines in the Big Ten the following year.
Penix defeated Texas’ secondary and consistently found Odunze, Polk, and Jalen McMillan—possibly the best-receiving corps in the country. He finished the game without getting sacked or giving the ball away by eluding Texas’ pass rush to prolong plays. A rare with DeBoer and coordinator Ryan Grubb’s offense, which kept a few quirks for the biggest stage and best opponent of the season, he ran three times for 31 yards on called runs.
Texas’ defensive backs were agitated by his spirals downfield that floated into the arms of his receivers and gave up 52 more throwing yards to Penix than any other quarterback they had faced this season.
With the score tied at 21, Penix trotted to the halftime locker room. In the third quarter, he completed his first 11 passes, helping the Huskies take a 31-21 lead and take control of the game in the second half.
Polk stated, “He’s like that every single day, 24/7.” “To us, that is nothing new.”
Penix placed second in the Heisman award voting one month prior, but he would have also taken home the award had the voting been postponed until after Monday’s playoffs.
Polk remarked, “I believe he didn’t win the Heisman because they always treat us like the underdog.” “Go view the movie, turn it on, and there are no lies.” He is capable of doing everything. He is a great thrower, runner, and passer. He’s putting your needs on screen, whatever they may be. It wounded us as a team that he didn’t understand it, guy. However, we were aware of the true winner, who is him.
Penix was dubbed the “best player in college football” by DeBoer.
Penix had a staff member help him put on a championship T-shirt over his pads as he waited for ESPN’s cameras to cut to him for his postgame interview. The sleeves of the shirt almost covered the tattoos of the matching “P” and the cursive “M” on his right and left triceps, respectively. His head was covered with a purple durag.
With closed eyes, he acknowledged the sky and gestured for a moment of gratitude.
Tight end Jack Westover, who caught six receptions for 59 yards, was a few feet away. He knelt and gazed through misty eyes, taking in the moment. After suffering an injury in the last minute of play, running back Dillon Johnson pounded his chest and raised his fist while being wheeled into the locker room.
At the beginning of the season, the Huskies had the 14th-best odds among the competitors at 40 to 1 to win the national championship. They were transported there by Penix, 1-of-1.
Penix entered the arena for the prize ceremony as Prince’s “Purple Rain” filled the suddenly empty stadium. DeBoer gave him a shoulder pad slap after he hugged him. Their tones had become raspy.
With the eyes of his colleagues encircling him, Penix rose to the top of the stage.
The stadium’s Washington supporters erupted as he spoke into ESPN’s microphones, “We got one more to go.” “Man, we’re heading to the natty.” Come on, let’s go.
