When the Washington Huskies take on the Indiana Hoosiers on Saturday in a game that can unofficially be dubbed the Penix Bowl, coined by The Seattle Times’ Mike Vorel, in honor of one of the best college quarterbacks in recent memory, both sides have a strong argument to claim Michael Penix Jr.
Penix spent four years with the Hoosiers and stayed with them through a plethora of season-ending injuries, showing off his exciting potential when healthy before transferring to Washington in 2022, where he shattered school records. Although he played just two seasons in purple and gold, he has a very strong argument for the title of the best quarterback in Husky history, thanks to his 9,544 yards and 67 touchdowns.
After his NFL debut on Sunday, Penix chose his side.
A lot of people ask me who I’m cheering for,” Penix told Vorel after the Atlanta Falcons suffered a 34-14 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. “I definitely want ‘The Dub’ [Washington] to win. At the same time, I am an alum from Indiana, so there’s no bad blood. But I want ‘The Dub’ to win.”
Following the Jimmy Lake era, the energy Penix brought to the Washington program is immeasurable, as his vibrant personality and spectacular work ethic helped turn him into an icon in Seattle.
Then, of course, there are his accolades on the field. He finished his Washington career with a 25-3 record, a Pac-12 championship win, a College Football Playoff victory over Texas, a trip to the national championship, and a second-place finish for the Heisman Trophy, the highest in school history.
Read Vorel’s full story on Penix here.