WATCH: ‘Dejected’ Michael Penix Jr. walks off the field in disappointment after Washington’s no-show in the National Championship Game against Michigan

Penix threw 2 picks and 1 touchdown in the CFP final.

WATCH: ‘Dejected’ Michael Penix Jr. walks off the field in disappointment after Washington’s no-show in the National Championship Game against Michigan

Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. leaves the field after losing the CFP final to Michigan Wolverines (Screengrab YouTube)

Michael Penix Jr. cracked under Michigan Wolverines (#1 seed) well-planned coverage that forced him to make errors in judgments throughout the college football finals at NRG Stadium on Monday night. The Washington Huskies (#2) top-ranked offense fell flat against Michigan’s top-ranked defense.

When Donovan Edwards broke through the Huskies’ defense and scored the first touchdown of the game, it was evident that it was going to be a long night for Washington. Penix was not his usual self. On January 1st, he dismantled the Longhorns’ defense, and against Michigan, he completed more picks than touchdowns.

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Penix, who was the runner-up for the 2023 Heisman Trophy, managed a moderate 255 passing yards but threw two interceptions. But that’s not all; it’s the completion percentage that struggled the most. He only completed 27 of 51 attempted passes, which is barely 54%.

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To give a short example, with 10:27 remaining in the first half, one of the best receivers in college football, Roman Odunze, was clear, and Penix missed him by some distance. Then another mistake happened late in the last quarter when the Wolverines’ Mike Sainristil intercepted his pass and ran it back 81 yards to Washington’s 8-yard line.

And to make things worse, the return set up Blake Corum‘s touchdown, which sealed the game for Michigan. Unlike Jim Harbaugh‘s side, who were playing their first CFP final since 1997, this was the Huskies’ first appearance on this stage. It ended in a disappointing 34-13 defeat, which showed as Penix walked off the field, hiding his face with a towel.

What does the future hold for Michael Penix Jr.?

It was a bad defeat for the Huskies, who did not drop a single game the entire season, similar to Michigan. Not only that, but 13 was the lowest point they scored in the entire campaign. It also snapped Washington’s 21-game winning streak—the longest in the school’s history. This was also the first time a No. 1 seed beat a No. 2 seed in the CFP Finals (1-3).

WATCH: 'Dejected' Michael Penix Jr. walks off the field in disappointment after Washington's no-show in the National Championship Game against Michigan
Washington Huskies quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (Image via Imago)

As for Michael Penix Jr.’s future, well, that’s not clear as of yet. There are rumors that he will declare for the 2024 NFL Draft. He returned to play his sixth year of football for Washington in 2023, which is the final year of NCAA eligibility. Keeping that in mind, the CFP Final should be his penultimate game for the Huskies.

According to CBS Sports, Penix was projected to be a top-10 pick in the draft. And he could land in Atalanta, which means he could go as high as 8th. 2022 3rd-round pick Desmond Ridders hasn’t been what the Falcons expected, and Penix could make a difference. He will have several weapons to work with. Most notably, running back Bijan Robinson and wide receiver Drake London. Everything rests on Penix’s decision.

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