Penix finishing long trip in style
Washington entered the College Football Playoff as the No. 2 seed, but it still was an underdog against Texas in the Sugar Bowl. After beating the Longhorns 37-31, the Huskies once again will be the underdog when they face Michigan in Monday’s national championship game at NRG Stadium.
It won’t be an unfamiliar spot for the Huskies, who weren’t favored in their last two games: against Oregon in the Pac-12 title game and the Sugar Bowl against Texas.
Washington has been able to overcome all doubters.
Here are five things you should know about the Washington program heading into the national title game:
Penix is the man
Anyone who watched the Sugar Bowl knows Michael Penix Jr., is the real deal. The Huskies quarterback diced up the Texas secondary, completing 29 of 38 passes for 430 yards and two touchdowns. His back story is pretty incredible. Lightly recruited out of Tampa, Fla,, Penix signed with Indiana. He spent four seasons with the Hoosiers but battled injuries, never playing more than six games in a season and tearing his ACL twice. He’s now played two seasons at Washington — yes, that’s six years due to the COVID season for the man who turns 24 in May — and finished runner-up to LSU’S Jayden Daniels for the Heisman Trophy.
Rising head coach
Kalen Deboer is a relative unknown to a college football world used to big names like Nick Saban and Jim Harbaugh. Deboer is an example of working yourself up from the bottom. The 49-year-old started his coaching career in Sioux Falls, S.D., where he also played college football. He worked his way up and got his first FBS head coaching gig four years ago at Fresno State. In his second year at Washington, he already has the Huskies in the national title game, meaning his relatively modest annual salary of $4.2 million is about to get a big boost.
Players from Texas
Just like Michigan, Washington has six players from Texas on its roster. The only Houston representative is reserve cornerback Jaivion Green, who starred at Lamar High School. Green made two tackles against Texas in the Huskies’ Sugar Bowl win. Two of Washington’s best players also hail from Texas. Ja’lynn Polk, who is from Lufkin, is the team’s No. 2 receiver, catching 65 balls for 1,122 yards and nine touchdowns this season. The Texas Tech transfer had five catches for 122 yards and a score against the Longhorns. Jabbar Muhammad from Desoto is Washington’s top cornerback. After transferring from Oklahoma State in the offseason, Muhammad was named second-team All-pac 12.
NFL draft prospects
The Huskies are loaded with NFL talent and could have three first-round picks in April. Receiver Rome Odunze could be a top 10 pick. Penix also could go high. Left tackle Troy Fautanu also looks like a first-rounder with his versatility to play tackle and guard.
Huskies’ history
Washington claims two national championships in program history: 1960 and 1991. The 1991 team went undefeated and beat Michigan in the Rose Bowl. Miami also had a perfect season, leading to a split title. The 1960 title was split with Minnesota, a team the Huskies beat in the Rose Bowl.