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Yesterday, we recapped the Michigan Wolverines’ path to the national championship. Now, it’s their opponent’s turn.
Here’s everything you need to know about the No. 2 Washington Huskies.
How They Got Here
Unstoppable offense
Washington was ranked No. 10 in the preseason AP poll. Since then, the Huskies have only risen in the rankings, ending all the way up at No. 2. One common theme has defined this gradual climb:Washington always found a way to win. Even with eight games decided by one possession (eight points or fewer), the Huskies enter the national championship 14-0.
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This Washington team is defined by a high-functioning offense that leads the FBS in passing yards per game (350). Sixth-year transfer quarterbackMichael Penix Jr. has thrown for more than 300 yards in 10 of 14 gamesthis season. He has surpassed 400 yards four times, including in Washington’s CFP semifinal win against favored Texas. Of course, Penix is backed by an elite group of receivers, led by Rome Odunze and Ja’Lynn Polk, who have both tallied more than 1,000 receiving yards this year. Jalen McMillan missed some time due to injury but is now fully back to round outthe Huskies’ trio of game-breaking targets.
Full disclosure, I voted for two Washington players on my Heisman Trophy ballot(Penix in first place, Jayden Daniels in second place, Odunze in third place). I couldn’t deny how much Penix and Odunze meant to their team when it mattered most against some of the best teams in college football this season. Case in point (per ESPN’s Bill Connelly): Penix targeted Odunze 21 times when Washington’s in-game win probability was under 50 percent. The duo connected on 19 of those throws for 333 yards. Plenty of times,those completions came against tight coverage, too.
In the final year of the Pac-12 as we know it, Washington could claim the conference’s first CFP national title. To further understand the makeup of this Huskies team, I brought inThe Athletic’sChris Kamranito answer a few questions.
Three Questions
Huskies win it all if …
Washington’s win against Texas came down toone final play. How confident were you in the Huskies defense to make that fourth-down stop in the end zone?
If I am being honest — and around the holidays, you tell the truth — I thought Quinn Ewers was going to find either Adonai Mitchell or Xavier Worthy for a touchdown. It would’ve been the cruelest ending in CFP history, but so many things were suddenly cascading for the Huskies that I thought Texas was going to steal it at the horn. What makes Washington so tough isn’t its potent offense or its star QB but itsability to win close games. The Huskies’ last 10 games have been decided by 10 points or less, and look where they are.
If you had to pick one, what is Washington’s top weapon on offense: Michael Penix Jr., the receiving corps or thecoaching partnership of Kalen DeBoer and OC Ryan Grubb?
As amazing as Penix has been and as stacked as the WR room is, it’s the scheme and approach from Washington’s two offensive minds. Case in point: It’s worked basically everywhere they’ve been from the NAIA level to the Group of 5 and now in a power conference on the precipice of a national crown. When I spoke to both DeBoer and Grubb before the Texas game, they each said that you’re always going to have a shot to be really good with a really good QB in their system. That’s not breaking news in the sport, but they knew in order to get the ball rolling in Seattle they had to get a QB who had star potential, and Penix has transformed into the most enjoyable player to watch in college football.
Both DeBoer and Grubb also told me that they saw tremendous upside in the wide receivers when they arrived but that there was a significant amount of room to grow for them all. Two years in, the ceiling for this band of receivers has been reached.
Washington, a 4.5-point underdog, beats Michigan if …
If the best offensive line in college football outplays the best defensive line (and defense) in college football. The Husky O-line will undoubtedly have its most arduous test of the year, trying to give Penix adequate time to throw. Alabama was overwhelmed by Michigan’s front for much of that semifinal meeting.
We saw what the Huskies can do when Penix has time for routes to develop and his receivers have time to get separation. It’s a cliché, but this game will definitely be decided in the trenches.
Timeline
Finding ways to win
The Huskies faced just as much drama as Michigan did this season — except Washington’s was mostly contained to the football field. Other than, you know, conference realignment.
Sept. 2, 2023, season opener:Washington shut down Boise State in Week 1 by a score of 56-19.
Oct. 14, 2023, first win vs. Oregon:One week after gettingtested against Arizona, the Huskies pulled off a major 36-33 win against undefeated Oregon. Suddenly, national championship hopes feltmore achievable than ever.
Nov. 18, 2023, a close call:Penix threw for his Washington-career-low (162 yards) in a 22-20 win on the road againstthen-No. 12 Oregon State. But it was this ranked win (Washington’s fourth at the time) that boosted the Huskies from No. 5 to No. 4 in the CFP committee’s rankings.
Nov. 24, 2023, the Apple Cup:In Washington’s final game of regular-season Pac-12 play, it beat in-state rival Washington State 24-21. Don’t worry, though: Despite realignment eliminating this as a conference game, the schools haverenewed their rivalry through the 2028 season.
Dec. 1, 2023, Washington wins Pac-12:The Huskiesprevailed 34-31against Oregon to end all doubt about their CFP potential and claim theirsecondwin against Heisman finalist Bo Nix and company.
Dec. 4, 2023, CFP field announced:The Huskies earned the No. 2 seed from the selection committee, their highest ranking of the season.
Dec. 9, 2023: Heisman ceremony:Penix finished second to LSU’s Jayden Daniels in Heisman Trophy voting. He is Washington’shighest Heisman finisher ever.
Dec. 19, 2023, DeBoer named AP coach of the year:Receiving 30 of 52 first-place votes, DeBoer became thefirst Washington coach to earn this honor.
Jan. 1, 2024, beat Texas:Washington topped Texas 37-31 in the Sugar Bowl to advance to the national championship. The ending was more dramatic than expected, but just like they had all season, the Huskies found a way to win. (The extra good news is that DeBoer said running back Dillon Johnson, who re-aggravated a lingering foot injury in the final minute against Texas,should be ready to go for the title game.)
Quick Snaps
Washington’sstar wide receiversenjoyed a“once-in-a-lifetime experience.”
What makes Washington footballinnovative?How Penix has thrived under DeBoer.
What isOdunze’s NFL Draft stock?Washington WRkeeps coming up big.
Washington’s Kalen DeBoer isnever afraid, and that makes theHuskies scary.
How the partnershipof DeBoer and Grubblanded the Huskies in the CFP.
Penixled Washington to soaring heights whileovercoming deep lows.
(Photo: Chris Graythen / Getty Images)
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Jayna Bardahl is a college football staff editor for The Athletic. She has worked as an editor and reporter covering Big Ten football and men's basketball, and was an intern at The Boston Globe, where she covered the Boston Red Sox and New England Patriots. Follow Jayna on Twitter @Jaynabardahl
