Michael Penix Jr. details mindset in clutch situations

Washington has had an impressive, undefeated season so far, but the program is now receiving a heightened sense of recognition after their impressive 36-33 win over Oregon at home after getting a visit from ESPN’s College Gameday.

The Huskies win called for a scoring drive late in the fourth quarter when they were down by four points, which star quarterback Michael Penix Jr. was able to deliver on to help his team secure the win. After the game, Penix was asked about his mindset in those clutch moments but first spoke about his team’s mindset as a whole.

“We’ve just got a team full of dogs man, just guys that’s gonna compete all the way to the end and that’s what it’s all about,” Penix said. “The whole time on the sideline once we didn’t get that fourth down there we already knew. We was talking to ourselves like hey, we’re going to get the ball back, we just gotta go down there and execute at a high level and we’re going to come out with the win, and that’s what we was able to do.”

A Jordan James touchdown run gave Oregon a 33-29 lead early in the fourth quarter, and after both offenses traded drives that ended in failed fourth down attempts, Penix knew his offense had to strike.

With 1:49 left in the contest Penix led the Huskies’ offense to the end zone with ease, scoring a touchdown in just two plays after finding Ja’Lynn Polk on a 35-yard play and ending the drive with an 18-yard touchdown pass to Rome Odunze.

“I’d say I’m cool, calm, and collect. I’m a guy that I don’t really get too high or too low in any pressure moments. I love it. I love being in those sit,” Penix said before stopping himself. “I’m not going to say I love being in those situations, if I couldn’t, if I didn’t have to and we was just blowing teams out all the time that would be great as well.”

Penix not only relies on his own poise in clutch situations, but his elite group of wide receivers who have come through big for him all season. Between Odunze, Polk, and Jalen McMillan (who’s missed half of the season) the trio has combined for 92 receptions, 1,633 receiving yards, and 14 scores, with each of the three also adding a rushing touchdown to their respective stat lines as well.

“But when those situations do come I understand that I’m mentally prepared and always ready for those moments,” Penix said. “And my team as well, and my boy Rome back there, he’s going to make the plays. Rome going to make the play so I just gotta get those boys the ball and that’s what I try to do each and every day.”

Penix did a great job of distributing on Saturday, ending the game with 302 yards and four touchdown passes on the day.

He’ll look the lead the No. 5 ranked Huskies to their seventh win of the season and their 14th straight victory this Saturday as they take on Arizona State at 10:30 p.m. ET in a game airing on FS1.