As Michigan’s top-seeded team (14–0) gets ready to play No. 2 Washington (14–0) for the national title, Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh believes that protecting one specific Huskies player is crucial. In the Huskies’ 37–31 victory
over No. 3 Texas in the Sugar Bowl, Michael Penix Jr.—who finished second in the Heisman Trophy—displayed hi/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72586800/1454901776.0.jpg?w=640&ssl=1)
s whole skill set by completing 76.3% of his passes for 430 yards and two touchdowns. With 35 touchdown passes this season, the senior signal-caller stands third in the country. Harbaugh lavished praise on him.
In Houston on Saturday, Harbaugh told reporters, “He’s just got the ‘it’ factor.” “He has no morality when he tosses one of those balls through the narrowest opening, knowing that his receivers will make a play once he gets it in there. That’s really, really good. As proficient as he is within the pocket, he is equally lethal in any direction when he emerges from it. It is powerful. It is superior.”
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71336441/1421327540.0.jpg?resize=640%2C427&ssl=1)
Penix and the potent Washington offense, which has averaged 37.6 points per game this season, will present a formidable challenge for Harbaugh and the Wolverines’ defensive unit. But Michigan, who led the country in scoring defense this season, giving up only 10.2 points per game, will be incredibly confident. The 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship game is scheduled to take place on Monday at 7:30 p.m. ET at NRG Stadium in Houston.
