Penix Was At His Best In Sugar Bowl To Send UW To National Championship
NEW ORLEANS — Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. was dialed in like never before on Monday night in the Sugar Bowl. The Heisman runner-up made big-time throws left and right en route to a 37-31 victory over Texas, clinching Washington's spot in the national championship game.
Washington's gunslinger was nearly perfect, completing 29 of 38 passes for 430 yards and 2 touchdowns. He also showed off his legs with 3 carries for 31 yards against a Texas defense that was not expecting him to run the ball.
Penix came out firing right away, hitting wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk for a gain of 77 yards on his first pass attempt of the night. He completed 6 passes of over 20 yards, including a fourth-quarter toss to Rome Odunze to pick up 32 and led to a Grady Gross field goal that was the eventual difference-maker in the game.
"He set the tone pretty quicky," DeBoer said. "He made all the throws, he was so good with his feet in the pocket. Those are all things we know he's capable of doing and against a good defense like Texas, he did all the things that make him in my mind, the best player in college football."
Penix made NFL-caliber throws throughout the night and got into a rhythm that Texas couldn't find a way to counter. His 76 percent completion percentage tied for his second-highest mark of the season and he didn't do it by checking the ball down left and right.
He averaged 14.8 yards per completion and got some help from his wide receivers. Odunze and junior Ja'Lynn Polk accumulated over 100 receiving yards each, pulling in 125 and 122 respectively.
Polk also secured a juggling touchdown catch that was batted up in the air before it fell into his arms for a 29-yard score just before halftime. It was just that kind of day for Washington's offense, who will now meet Michigan in the national championship in a game that will require a similar performance from Penix.
But as DeBoer has said all season, his team and his quarterback are built for this moment.
"Before the season, around fall camp I told our team that our goal was a national championship," Penix said after the game. "I know a lot of people called us crazy, but now we have that opportunity."
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