For much of the year, Washington’s offense with Michael Penix Jr. under center was like one of those sleek, new yachts that purr right up to Husky Stadium on Lake Washington and go “sail-gating.”
Unfortunately for the Huskies, in the national championship game, that offense looked more like a johnboat with a sputtering engine that has a faulty fuel injector.
While the Wolverines defense had something to do with it, a lot of it was self-inflicted.
Throughout the year, Penix had been so dead-eye accurate, deep passes felt like extended handoffs. His knowledge of Kalen DeBoer’s timing-based offense was impeccable, and with all the weapons surrounding him, the Huskies were too much for opponents. That pressure led to win after win.
But on the biggest stage of the season, all of that fell apart. Penix was off, throwing two interceptions. But there were other issues, too, like overthrow after overthrow on pivotal plays, and big-time penalties at crucial moments.
On Washington’s first drive, receiver Rome Odunze flashed open at the last minute for what could have been a game-tying touchdown. Penix overthrew him, and the Huskies settled for a field goal.
Facing fourth down trailing 17-3 midway through the second quarter, Odunze somehow found his way behind Michigan’s zone defense and broke free for what would have been an easy, long touchdown. Penix overthrew him. Two pre-snap penalties had backed them up to a difficult down-and-distance.
When Washington finally converted a 32-yard pass to Odunze with 12 minutes left in the game, it was negated by a questionable holding call. The few times the Huskies seemed on the cusp of something big, they squandered the chance with a “what was that?” play.
Squandered opportunities kept the Huskies at arm’s length.
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