Harbaugh, Penix perfectly placed focal points
HOUSTON — Michigan vs. Washington is just about the perfect way to end the 2023 college football season with a matchup of unbeatens that hits all the major themes and story lines of the past five months, from conference realignment to the transfer portal — with Jim Harbaugh as the main character.
Harbaugh’s top-ranked Wolverines (14-0) will face quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and the second-ranked Huskies (14-0) on Monday night at NRG Stadium in the last national title game before the College Football Playoff expands from four teams to 12.
“We’re going to have to play really good. And I think our team is ready,” Harbaugh said Sunday during a news conference with Washington coach Kalen DeBoer in which he compared his team to a pack of wolves and — yet again — ducked questions about his future.
“Still the hay is not in the barn. It never is for us. Still polishing. Still working. But super excited, super excited to watch our players go out there and compete tomorrow night.”
Michigan’s regular season started and ended with Harbaugh serving three-game suspensions related to NCAA infractions cases. The latter was handed down by the Big Ten in November as punishment for an in-person scouting and sign-stealing scheme the conference determined broke its sportsmanship policy.
The scandal dominated headlines just as Michigan was entering the meat of its Big Ten schedule. The accusations against Harbaugh’s program led many to question the legitimacy of the Wolverines’ renaissance over the past three seasons. This is Michigan’s third straight playoff appearance, but first time advancing after beating Alabama in overtime in the Rose Bowl.
Being doubted only galvanized a team loaded with experience that came into the season unafraid to point to winning Michigan’s first national championship since 1997 as the goal.
“A lot of guys came back just for this moment,” said linebacker Michael Barrett, one of nine Michigan starters in their fifth or sixth years.
Washington is built similarly and led by the type of star who typifies college football’s new era of player empowerment.
Penix started his career at Indiana — he already has a win against Michigan on his belt — but transferred to Washington to play for DeBoer in 2022.
Finally healthy after four injury-ravaged seasons in the Big Ten, Penix has become a star in the Pacific Northwest. The runner-up for the Heisman Trophy had some voters questioning their decision last week when he threw for 430 yards in a Sugar Bowl win over Texas.
“Man, it’s a dream come true. To be honest, I’m still wrapping my head around it,” Penix said.
Penix decided to return for 2023 and several talented teammates followed, such as All-America receiver Rome Odunze, and defensive end Bralen Trice and offensive tackle Troy Fautanu, both third-team All-Americans.
“He kind of led the charge. And a lot of guys chose to go down the same road,” DeBoer said. “I think they just really firmly believe that there was more left out there for this football team.”
It helps these days that college players can make some money off their fame and be compensated for name, image, and likeness. NIL collectives for both schools concentrated efforts on retaining their established players.
The four-team playoff will go out like it came in, with a Big Ten vs. Pac-12 championship as Washington plays the final Pac-12 football game for the conference as it is currently structured. (Ohio State beat Oregon in 2015.)
The Huskies will try to win the Pac12’s first national title in football since Southern California in 2004, a parting gift of sorts for the league they helped found in 1915. Washington’s last national championship came in 1991.
The Huskies will join the new coastto-coast Big Ten this summer, and in nine months will welcome Michigan to Seattle for a conference game.