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Michael Penix Jr. and the Washington Huskies are flying high with their undefeated record intact after Week 7. Washington's 36-33 victory over Oregon on Saturday has positioned the school as the favorite to make it to the College Football Playoff from the Pac-12.
College football analyst Kirk Herbstreit was impressed by the Huskies quarterback and said:
"Michael Penix is a treat to watch, and they can run the football better than you realize. But I think they still have a long way to go. The beauty of the Pac-12 is the gauntlet.
"I think the Pac-12 championship, the winner of that game will eventually emerge and get into the playoff. But the depth of the conference is fun, and even Oregon, I know they lost, but they can’t be out of this thing yet, either. They looked good the other day."
Michael Penix Jr. vs. Oregon Ducks
In a thrilling matchup against the No. 9-ranked Oregon Ducks, Michael Penix showed everyone why he’s worth the Heisman Trophy hype. He led the then-No. 7-ranked Washington Huskies to a nail-biting 36-33 victory. The game reached its climax when Penix threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Rome Odunze with just 1:38 remaining.
In a display of precision that Herbstreit was talking about, Penix executed a 35-yard pass to WR Ja’Lynn Polk. He followed it with the decisive throw to Odunze, which finally secured the lead for Washington.
Penix went 22-for-37 for 302 yards and four touchdowns. Odunze was on speed dial for the Heisman favorite, recording eight catches for 128 yards and two of the scores. The game featured an intense first half, including five consecutive touchdown drives between the two teams.
However, it was not all sunshine for Washington. The Huskies faced scrutiny for offensive decisions in the third quarter, when consecutive three-and-outs raised questions about play choices. UW ran six plays, all passes, with Penix completing only two of six attempts. The stops provided the Oregon Ducks with opportunities to regain momentum.
The No. 5 Washington Huskies (6-0, 3-0 Pac-12) will go up against the Arizona State Sun Devils (1-5, 0-3) in their next game on Saturday. Kalen DeBoer will be looking to maintain the undefeated momentum of his team, with Michael Penix steering the ship.
