CFP NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP: WASHINGTON VS MICHIGAN

January 6, 2024

Michael Penix

NRG Stadium

Washington Huskies

Press Conference

MiCHAEL PENIX JR.: Yeah, it's big. The Pac-12, I feel like in my opinion was the toughest conference this year all around. At one point in time we had eight teams ranked in the top 25. I feel like that speaks for itself. We had a lot of competition, a lot of good opponents each and every week.

But we're blessed to be able to come out on top and to be sitting here at this stage today. Super blessed, and man, just super excited for the opportunity.

Q. Every college football player dreams about getting to this stage. What is it like to be on this stage?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: Man, it's a dream come true. To be honest, I'm still wrapping my head around it. Just super blessed to be in this position. This is something you dream of as kids, coming to play for the National Championship. For us to be here right now, all the hard work and dedication that it took to get here, it's definitely shown and it's paid off. But obviously we've got to make it happen.

Q. I saw that you started as a three-star recruit, about 12, 14 offers out of high school. Maybe some advice for some kids that might be slightly underrecruited. Because obviously you went from essentially a three-star to a five-plus and beyond. Any advice to kids going through that process?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: Yeah, I wouldn't look into it too much as far as the stars and the ratings and stuff like that because once you come to college, it's all gone. You have no stars whenever you come to college. Everybody is on the same playing field. You've got to make the best of your opportunities whenever that time comes.

For me, like you said, I wasn't really the highly recruited guy. I'm a Florida kid, and I probably only had like two Florida schools that wanted me at the time coming out of high school.

It just shows you've just got to believe in yourself and trust your heart and know who you are. And the whole stars thing, that doesn't matter once you get to college. Once you get to college, it's a whole different ballgame.

Q. Football has been such a big part of your life but has also been taken away from you at times because of injuries. Talk about getting to this stage.

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: Yeah, man, those times were tough, but it just showed that I can get through anything. I can persevere and push through any hardship that comes my way. I just continue to lean on my faith and trust that God has a plan for me. And that's what it was all about, just trusting in God. That's what led me to being here today, just that trust and just understanding that it's a bigger plan for me that I might not know or that I might not see right now.

But I'm just super blessed to be in this position now. I wouldn't change anything I've been through for anything. I feel like it's shaped me into the player and the person that I am today. I'm super blessed.

Q. The send-off in Seattle yesterday looked pretty rowdy. What did you think of the fans showing up to send you off to Houston?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: Man, it was amazing. Our fans have been amazing all season. Super blessed to have a fan base like that. Like you said, it was raining out there, so for them to be out there in the rain, just being able to send us off, super exciting for what we've had going on all season. We've super blessed to have a fan base like that.

I can do nothing but praise them and give them thanks for all the support that they've given us all throughout the year.

Q. There are some people on the Michigan team who you've played with or coaches at Indiana. What's it like to be with guys like Jack Tuttle or Coach Hart who you remember from Indiana?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: Yeah, it's crazy. It's crazy. That's just how things work sometimes. It's a small world.

But I'm super blessed. I know those guys over there. They're super excited for the opportunity, as well. Tuttle, he was always a great person, great player to me, and we've had mutual respect throughout the years. We still were keeping in contact, wishing each other luck all the time. So I'm super excited for him.

Coach Hart, him, as well, just his buy-in whenever he was at Indiana, I feel like he was an amazing coach. And he's got a good group over there at Michigan, as well, right now. He's been doing good, too.

Super excited. Hopefully I get to see those guys, say what's up. But yeah, it's good.

Q. (Indiscernible).

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: It meant a lot. Me being at Indiana allowed me to get here. I feel like if I didn't go to Indiana, probably wouldn't have met Coach DeBoer and probably wouldn't be here. My whole path, I wouldn't change it for anything. I'm super blessed to be here, and I feel like everything happened for a reason.

Q. What was your mindset in regards to transferring before your Washington visit and then after? Obviously you had a relationship with Coach DeBoer.

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: Yeah, like you said, the relationship with Coach DeBoer, that definitely helped the reason for me to come here. He's somebody that I trusted in whenever he was coaching me at Indiana.

But it was good. The whole transfer thing, I felt like I was doing what I felt was best for me and my future at that time, and I definitely don't regret it. I feel like it was the best decision of my life, and I'm super blessed that I was able to do that. And to be able to be on this stage today is a big blessing.

But I've always loved and believed in Coach DeBoer and everything that he stands for and he preaches. I'm still doing it, still believing.

Q. You scouted the offensive line, looked at film of the offensive line. That line the year before (indiscernible) 3.19 yards per rush. Now it's the best offensive line in the country, but I wonder what you saw in that O-line.

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: I just saw a lot of talent and a lot of potential. I feel like whenever I watch the tape on the offensive linemen and the skill players, I felt like -- you know, I wasn't really watching the offense that was being ran before I got here. It was about seeing what I had around me. And when I saw those guys and then meeting them in person and stuff like that, I'm like, all right, this is going to be a special group.

Because I knew the offense that was coming in and I knew that we'd be able to do something special with that offense with this group of guys. And we've been doing it. We've got one more to go, and I'm super excited for it.

Q. Seattle loves its Seahawks, loves its sports. Do you feel like you kind of own that city for the moment?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: No, I wouldn't say I own, but I feel like I'm a comfortable and well-loved and respected resident. I'm super excited. I'm glad to be there. I'm glad that they accepted me. The whole city of Seattle accepted me, not just the University of Washington. I'm just super blessed for a city to gravitate to us and what we're doing at University of Washington the way that they do.

Q. Geno Smith was talking this week about working out with you and how excited he is for you. Can you go into that relationship, the time to get to know him and how it's taken you to this stage?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: Yeah, Geno, I trained with him in the off-season for a little bit. He's a great guy, a great leader, and he's somebody that's definitely been doing great things in Seattle. He has a great fan base there, as well. He's somebody that -- people counted him out, but he done the next right thing and that's where I got it from. He gave me words of advice and stuff like that. He's a guy that wants to see everybody around him do great. And, man, he's just a blessing to so many people.

Q. You got questions all last week about the Texas D-line. It seems this week the story is Michigan's secondary. What do you see from them on film, and have they faced an offense quite like yours?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: Yeah, man, that whole defense, they're good. They do a lot of good things on that side of the ball. I feel like they're very well-coached and they have a lot of good players. And we do, too, obviously.

For me, I'm always going to believe in my guys and believe that my guys are going to be able to get the job done, no matter who we're facing. I'm super excited for it. I know the guys are super excited for it. Come Monday, I guess we'll see who had the better side.

Q. Reflecting on your time at Indiana, how did Coach Allen impact you and how will he affect the players at Penn State now that he's their defensive coordinator?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: Yeah, he's a great coach. He's a coach that it's easy to love him because of the guy he is, the person he is. I feel like he cares about his players. He cares about the person more than the player. I feel like he's a guy that will definitely do great things at Penn State. He's going to bring great leadership. He's going to bring great energy, intensity each and every day.

He was always the same guy every day and always had that same energy, same spark, trying to help the team be better in any way that he could. I feel like they're definitely getting a good coach.

Q. Your connection with Rome, the last five games, he makes the big plays in crunch time. How does it make it easier for you when you know you have a player like him that can make those big-time catches in crunch time?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: Man, it makes my job really easy. He does it every day, not just on game day but in practice. He's the guy you're going to see going 100 percent in practice. It doesn't matter if he's running a route, the ball is coming to him, he's blocking. Sometimes I try to tell him to save his legs and say I'm not throwing it to you on this play. But he's still running full speed. That shows the character and the guy that he is.

I feel like he's a guy that's going to continue to keep making plays throughout his career. But also having a great room around him, as well, with Ja'Lynn Polk, Jalen McMillan, Germie Bernard, Giles Jackson, a lot of guys that's been able to impact and help us win football games throughout the year. That room feeds off each other and they want to help each other be great, so it's a very special room.

Q. After you arrived after the transfer, how did you go about gaining the trust and building the respect of your new teammates?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: I'd say work. It's about the work that you put in. Coming into a new team, the guys, they don't really know what you're going to bring to the table.

But for me, I was showing it through my work, just trying to lead the best way I could. Obviously being a new guy, I didn't want to feel like a guy that just because I was a veteran, I felt like I was above the team at all. I was like, okay, for me, I wanted to be able to work and show these guys that I'm somebody that they can trust and somebody that they can trust to lead them to win football games.

That's what it was about, just getting in the work each and every day. I knew my play would be able to speak for itself. So the whole off-season grind, that's what it was always about, putting in the work and showing those guys that I'm ready to compete.

Q. What have the conversations been like between you, your O-line, your teammates heading into Monday's game?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: It's been great. Just telling the guys, just don't get too wrapped up into everything else. Just knowing that it's just another game for us.

Obviously we're playing for something huge, the biggest in college football right now, so just making sure the guys just understand, don't make the game bigger than what it is and go out there and have fun. That's what it's going to be about, going out there and having fun.

Obviously we've got to execute at a high level because we're playing a good team, and we've got to make sure that we come ready to play. That's what it's been about.

Q. You've had a long career in college football thanks to the transfer portal, rule changes that have let you play longer. How has that impacted your development?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: I feel like it's impacted me a lot. Obviously being in this offense, as well, for five years, I feel like that's something that's helped me, as well. I've seen so many different looks with all the plays that we have. It's like, I kind of have a feel for the game to where most of the time I know where I'm throwing before I even snap the ball.

Obviously good defenses are going to change looks and stuff like that, but being able to adjust on the fly, being quick through my progressions and stuff like that, I feel like that's stuff that I've been able to grow -- that's areas I've been able to grow in throughout the year.

Q. How important is it to have McMillan healthy at this point in the year after going through the middle of the year struggling with some stuff?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: It's very important. He's a game changer. He's a guy that's going to come in and make plays all throughout the game. He always tells me, hey, Mike, I'm open. He's always like, I'm always open, just find me.

Just to have somebody like that, he's definitely a game changer. It's just with him and Ja'Lynn Polk and Rome on the field at the same time, you can't really double anybody on our team because you've got two other guys on the field that's going to be able to make big-time plays.

And our tight ends have been doing a heck of a job, as well. To be able to have that depth in that room and Jalen McMillan being back is definitely special.

Q. How much do you talk about legacy and how this team will be remembered as a group?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: We hit on it sometimes, but we don't want to get too caught up in just talking about it. We want to go out there and show it and do it. We hit on it, but at the same time, we've got to continue to show up come game day.

And it starts with practice. The way that we go about each and every day, each and every situation, just going in with the intensity to go out there and just prove ourselves right. Not really -- I don't really say prove the naysayers wrong, I feel like just proving us right.

At the beginning of the season, the first thing I said was I wanted to win a National Championship, and we have the opportunity to do that. Everybody else -- we've been underdogs for the past four, five, six weeks now, so it's like, just continue to prove ourselves right. We know the talent and the team that we have. We've just got to go out there and show it.

Q. Looking back over the season -- obviously you were on a different team, Michigan was a totally different team -- but how have you seen yourself evolve in the time since you last played Michigan?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: Yeah, it's totally different. Like you said, they're a different team, as well. I'm a different player. I just feel like just my confidence and obviously game time experience, stuff like that, being on the field, that has a lot to factor into it, as well.

I feel like it's been a lot of areas I've grown in, leadership-wise, player-wise, as well, on and off the field.

It's been a lot, but it's still going.

Q. Your family is here, your parents here this weekend. What's that support mean to you?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: It means a lot. They always show up. They're always there for me. If they can't make it to the game, they're going to watch it on TV and make sure they call me right after the game. To be able to have a support system like that is amazing. I'm super blessed to have a family like that, and I thank them each and every day for it. Because for them to love me unconditionally no matter if I was injured or if I was on the field being successful, they were always there for me. So it's been special.

Q. If you had to pick just one thing, what's the biggest factor you think that allows you to take your game to another level this year?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: Just confidence, and I feel like just everybody around me. I feel like being in the second year with this team in this offense has definitely elevated us to new heights. Last year was our first year in the offense -- not my first year but everybody else's year in the offense. But for everybody to come back and gain more experience, gain more knowledge with the offense and stuff like that, it's definitely been special.

Q. This season has really boosted your draft profile. What do you think about the fact that you've been able to do that?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: I'm just super blessed to be in this position. I really don't focus in on the draft, stuff like that, because I feel like that God has a plan for me, and I'm going to trust that. For me, I've just got to go out there and fulfill his purpose, I feel like, and everything will work itself out.

I've just been trying to work on just being the best version of myself for my team and for this university each and every day.

Q. What was it about Coach DeBoer that you felt you wanted to play for him?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: I'll just say the confidence that he gave me when I was out there on the field. He always gave me -- whenever I was getting the ball in my hands, I always felt like I had somewhere to go with it. I always felt comfortable in my reads and my checks. And the way he helped me prepare each and every week was next level, and I wanted to be a part of that again.

Q. How would you describe your relationship when you got to Washington? Did you pick up where you left off?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: Yeah, I feel like it's been growing. It definitely did pick up where it left off, but we definitely took it to new heights. I feel like our relationship has definitely grown since 2019. I feel like just the trust factor and the way that we talk to each other, stuff like that, I feel like it's all been growing throughout the years. And I'm just super blessed to be able to have a coach like him.

Q. You mentioned earlier that you guys have been an underdog several weeks in a row, that you guys have felt overlooked at times. How has that impacted you guys?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: I mean, we see that stuff that's out there, but we don't really let it bother us. We have an us versus us mentality. That's been kind of like our motto all year, us versus us, because we know that people might not believe in us. But for us and within our doors, within our team, we've got to have that understanding that nobody can shape our future. Only we can.

That's how we go about each and every day. We know that it's not always going to be perfect. People are not always going to be on our side. But as long as we've got each other, that's all that matters.

Q. What's the biggest challenge Michigan presents to you?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: The biggest challenge? I just feel like they're a good team. They do a lot of great things.

As far as biggest challenge, most of the time you don't really notice that until you get in the game. Because on film, things look a lot easier until the bullets are flying right there in your face, and it's like, you've got to adjust on the fly, things like that. I guess we'll see.

Q. You have a short turnaround here for a championship game. Have you felt the magnitude of this yet? Has it set in?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: Yeah, it's definitely been setting in. But like I said, it's surreal. I feel like for me, it's still like it's a dream come true, and it's something that I'm still wrapping my head around. It's like, it's crazy to be in this position, especially going through the things that we've been through as a team, the things I've been through as a person and a player, as well. It's definitely made it much more special.

Q. Michigan's defense sacked Milroe six times last week. Are you curious to see the match-up of your offensive line versus their defensive front?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: Yeah, I'm very interested to see. I feel like Michigan's defense, they definitely presented a lot of problems for Alabama. I feel like they caused a little bit of confusion with their protection calls and stuff like that.

I saw they have guys that can win in the pass rush for sure, one-on-one match-ups and stuff like that. But I feel like watching film, most of the sacks came from just bad communication by the offensive line and the quarterback, whoever makes the protection calls and stuff like that.

For us, all week it's like making sure that I get the guys in the right protection call. Because obviously we've got Joe Moore Award winners in front of me, and as long as I get those guys to the right people -- blocking the right people, I feel like we'll be great.

Q. One of the things that stands out (indiscernible) timing, accuracy, back-shoulder balls. How do you get good at that?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: Repetition. I just feel like just the trust that you have and that you build with your teammates each and every week. It's started since day one, since I first stepped on campus. It was my first day there and the guys are hitting me up, can we get a throwing session in tomorrow, which was my second day, and I'm like, yeah, let's go.

It's just the trust and the belief that we have in one another and just understanding that everybody on this team wants to be great and they want to see each other be great, as well. We don't have any selfish guys on the team, so I feel like that's what makes it so much more special, because I know that I can give the ball to anybody. And I don't have people coming to me like hey, I want the ball, I want the ball. They want to see each other be great, so it's been special.

Q. Was there a moment this season you guys had, whether winning against Oregon or USC or Alabama where you guys (indiscernible)?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: Not really. I feel like we've been taking it one game at a time, one week at a time, one day at a time. Just making sure that we handle business each and every week.

That's what it's been about. We knew that we had the opportunity to be able to be here, but at the end of the day, we've got to win the game that's right there in front of us. We weren't really focused in on, oh, we have a chance to get here. It's like, we've got to do whatever it takes to get here.

Q. (Indiscernible) three of the last five games (indiscernible) three points or less.

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: I just feel like just our trust with one another. I feel like this team is so close, and we have a bond that's so tight to where we trust the guys next to us. We play a lot of complementary football, as well. Just offense trusting defense to get off the field, to get us the ball; defense trusting us to put points on the board. I feel like that's what it's been about. We've been doing a great job with it.

I feel like this team does an amazing job finding ways to win, and that's what it's all about, just doing your best to find a way to win, and that's what we've been able to do all season.

Q. You see on social media some of the guys that have been around five, six years have a lot of running jokes. Do you have anything like at that from your teammates, guys that call you old man or anything like that?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: Not much, not much, but I'll hear it sometimes. It's funny.

Q. Having played in the Big Ten, is there anything you can take from any of the games against Michigan?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: No. It's been quite a few years since I played them. It's not really nothing that they did in 2020 that would carry over to this year, I would say.

Obviously I feel like they're a physical team. They're a tough team, and they're going to do a lot of good things. They're going to make plays, and we're going to make a lot of plays, as well.

It's just about just staying locked in throughout the game and just understanding that we have another opportunity each and every drive. Just doing whatever we can to make sure we get points on the board, and that's getting in the end zone.

Q. (Indiscernible) does that maybe amp you up knowing you get an opportunity to go against one of the best defenses?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: I'm always amped up for every game. It doesn't matter who we're playing, I'm super excited, especially going through what I've been through. I'm just always super excited for the opportunity to be able to be out there with my brothers and be available for them.

I'm always excited for the games, and it's going to be a great match-up.

Q. I'm curious, every program has got to figure out how to navigate NIL and the way they're going to play it. How do you feel Washington has done? Seems like they really keep the culture in the locker room intact even with the influx of the money. How do you think they've been able to do that?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: Our program, it's called Montlake Futures, where they help us with NIL. They help all athletes throughout the school, not just football players. But they do an amazing job just giving people opportunities to be able to have that opportunity to get NIL deals and stuff like that.

It's been pretty evenly distributed. I feel like they do an amazing job and the coaches do an amazing job of making sure that's not the focus. The focus is winning football games. Once you win football games and you're doing good, that's when the opportunities and stuff like that come.

For us, we know that it's about winning football games, and those opportunities will come, and they'll present itself whenever it need be.

It's a lot of guys on our team, as well, that's just all about that, as well. You know, just all about winning. Once you make it about the money piece, the love for the game and the team camaraderie, it's very tight within our team. It's been okay.

Q. Partly because Washington isn't going out and (indiscernible) on high school kids?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: I don't know, I'm not going to get too far into that conversation, but I feel like University of Washington does an amazing job with it. I'm just super excited to be on the team.

Q. Your thoughts on being the last Pac-12 team standing, the last conference champion, do you care that you're the last Pac-12 team?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: Do I care? Yeah, I mean, it means a lot. Obviously it's something that you're going to remember for the rest of your life. But just super blessed to be a part of the conference.

We had a dominant conference all year, had a lot of great teams, and always was playing good teams each and every week. I'm super blessed to be a part of it. And for it to be the last one, it's sad, but at the same time, that's just how the world is. It just keeps moving, business and stuff like that.

That's stuff that we can't control. The only thing we can control is what we do come game day and each and every day to prepare for it.

I'm super blessed, super glad that we were able to win the last one, though, obviously.

Q. This might be going way back, but you played against this Michigan defense before in 2020 when you were at Indiana. What do you remember about that game?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: Well, I wouldn't say I played this Michigan defense. I mean, it was a whole different team. They're a different team. I'm on a different team.

I wouldn't say I can really take much from that game and look at it to help with this game because it was totally different. COVID, that year, Michigan, they weren't where they wanted to be at that time. I think they had multiple losses that year.

The past two or three years, they've been winning. They've been winning a lot. That's what led them to be here. That's a good team over there, so I'm super excited for the opportunity, and I know that they're going to be super excited, as well. It's going to be a great match-up.

Q. You guys have been one of the best scoring offenses in the country. This is the best scoring defense in the country. What challenges do they present to you guys?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: As far as challenges, I kind of said it's like -- I don't know. I feel like they do a lot of great things on that side of the ball. I feel like they're very well-coached, and I feel like they're going to come ready to play. But at the same time, just watching it on film and being out there on the field, it's still totally different things.

On film, they can show challenges that they give to other teams, but those other teams, you might not think that they're the same team that you have. It's like those challenges most of the time show up during the game. I guess we'll see.

Q. The Apple Cup, 4th down, you go for it there, what was your thought when they called that play? That was an aggressive situation; the stakes couldn't have been any bigger and you guys were still going for it.

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: Yeah, it just shows the trust and confidence and belief that this coaching staff has in us as players. That was a play we'd been repping all week, and we were just waiting for the right time to call it. And it was perfect timing and we executed it at a high level. It just shows the trust that this team has with one another and obviously the coaches have in us.

Q. Do you love how aggressively they call for you in those situations and you guys have come up with those throughout the season?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: Yeah, Coach Grubb does an amazing job with our preparation to make sure we're locked in to the details and super ready and excited to play each and every week. It's been good. So it obviously comes from just belief and trust in us, and obviously that's something that you've got to build. You've got to build that trust and that relationship with the coaches, and I feel like this team has been doing an amazing job doing that.

We're super blessed. Super blessed.

Q. Obviously you knew Coach DeBoer, but what was it like getting to know Coach Grubb and developing that relationship with him, his coaching style and tendencies?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: Yeah, Coach Grubb is an amazing guy and an amazing coach, obviously. When I first met him, I knew I was going to like him because of his energy and the way he talked to me, I could just tell that he was all about football. He was all in, and that's what I was super excited about.

Coach DeBoer, obviously he was the one that was calling the plays for me at Indiana, and he was the biggest reason why I transferred to the University of Washington. But just talking to him, he's like, you're going to love Coach Grubb, just trust him.

And they have a great relationship and they've been calling offenses together for a while, so I was like, okay, I can definitely do that.

Man, we just ran off with it.

Q. Did you feel like Coach Grubb already had a pretty good understanding of what your skills were and your strengths were as you grew the offense?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: I had no idea. I feel like Coach DeBoer probably talked to him about it, the things that I could do on the field. He probably definitely watched my film, as well. I feel like he had an idea, but to see it in person, I feel like it's always going to be different, seeing things in person.

I'm just super blessed that he trusted in me.

Q. (Indiscernible) or brute force to beat Michigan?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: You're going to need it all. They're a really good team and they do a lot of good things. I feel like the biggest thing is just executing. It's just all about execution, just trusting in our preparation and our offense that we have. And at the end of the day, as long as we execute, we'll be able to get it done.

Q. With all you've been through throughout your career at Indiana, now at Washington, whenever you look around and see all that you're experiencing right now, does it kind of feel like all the hard work has paid off and all the trials you've been through have paid off?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: For sure. It makes it much more sweet. I've been through a lot, but I'm super blessed to be in this position, and I wouldn't change anything that I've been through for nothing.

I'm just super excited and super blessed to be in this position.

Q. What would it mean to win a championship?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: It would mean a lot. That has been our goal since day one. That's been my goal since day one, and I know the team, as well. It would be amazing to be able to bring that back to Seattle.

Q. Speak about your journey and the success that you've had.

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: Yeah, it's been crazy. Obviously a lot of ups and downs, bumpy roads. Been through a lot with the fourth season and the injuries in a row. I came from a lot. Like you said, playing in Florida, it teaches you toughness for sure, so I've been through it. I've been through tough situations before, so I knew that whenever I was going through those situations, I knew I'd be able to come out on top of it.

But I'm just super blessed to be here today on this stage, playing for the National Championship with this team. I feel like everything that I've been through shaped me into the person and the player that I am today, so it's been good.

Q. (On his style of play ).

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: Man, I feel like it's very important because that allows run after the catch. The ball placement is extra yards. That's how I look at it. If I throw the ball behind somebody, he's got to turn around, he's losing yards as he wastes time. I try to get the ball in the guy's hands in a good spot, depending on the route, to help them be able to get the yards after the catch because all those yards matter.

Q. What goes into the relationship with your receivers?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: Man, I just feel like just the trust that we have, not just on the field but off the field, as well. I feel like we've built that since day one, since I got there. Those are guys that I can trust and they know that they can trust me in any situation. It's definitely something that's been built.

But those guys work extremely hard each and every day in practice. They're going to give 110 percent each and every rep. I just know they're going to do it come game day, so I'm just super blessed to be able to have them on my team.

Q. When did you start doing that little side-arm flip that you do that seems to really work for you? Did you come up with that or have you always done that?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: Oh, man, I don't know, I've been doing that since I was 10. I don't know, since I started. That just happened. That's just playing the game. That just happened. It's not something that I'm like, oh, I want to do this this play. It's just playing football, man.

Q. Are there advantages to being a lefty?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: Like as far as -- I'm not a pitcher in baseball, so I don't know. It's different with other sports. But football, I don't feel like it's an advantage, disadvantage. I don't think so.

Q. The recruiting process in high school to Indiana, then getting to Washington, what's the journey been like from senior in high school to where you are now?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: It's been tough. A lot of ups and downs. But obviously I feel like it was all worth it. I feel like everything I've been through shaped me into the man and the player, the person I am today. I'm super blessed for it all. I wouldn't change it for anything.

But man, I'm just super, super excited for the opportunity that I have right here in front of me and super excited to be able to do it with my brothers.

Q. Is it true the former Tennessee staff had belief in you that you could get it done?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: Yeah, they took my offer.

Q. You've been in college for six seasons --

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: Yeah, this is my sixth.

Q. Do you ever feel like the old guy in the room because you're 24 and might be around a bunch of 18-, 19-year-old guys?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: Yeah, I'm 23, but yeah, I do know that I'm -- I'm not the oldest, but I'm one of the oldest on the team. It just is what it is. That's what comes with injuries and you've got the COVID year, redshirt, stuff like that. That's all part of the game. There's people older than me, so I don't really think about it too much.

Q. Does it help to be the old guy?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: I don't know. I guess game experience, game time, possibly. But I don't feel like just my age itself helped me, so I don't know.

Q. Talk a little bit about why you like playing for Coach DeBoer, why is he a guy that you connect with?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: Because he's the same guy each and every day. He's somebody that's going to always be the same guy each and every day. You don't have to guess what you're going to get out of him. He's going to be a guy that's going to lead us in every way that he can possible. That's what makes him so special. He's somebody that you can trust, and he doesn't switch up his character for anything.

Q. The Tennessee offer, did that give you extra motivation to prove yourself at Indiana?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: I wouldn't say it did anything. At the moment I didn't understand it, but at the same time, I knew the skill sets that I had, and I knew that I was going to be able to find a way to be successful wherever I went.

I don't look back on that and like, oh, I gotcha. It's nothing like that. For me, it was just always trying to do whatever I can to help whatever team I was on win football games. It didn't matter where I was. As long as it was somewhere I felt confident and somewhere that the team trusted me.

Q. You have a lot of college football accomplishments. Breaking Michigan's 24-game win streak over Indiana, is that high in your accomplishments would you say?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: I don't know. It was a long time ago. I didn't even know the whole 24-game win streak thing. I was just playing football.

But it's a whole different team now. The team that we're preparing for now is the team that's playing for the National Championship just like us. I think that was like a three- or four-loss Michigan team that year. So it's a totally different team.

Q. Anybody who beats Michigan, it's a big deal --

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: Yeah, I guess so. I don't know. It would be a big deal beating them this time because it's the National Championship. That's what I'm worried about.

Q. It seemed like you got the entire city of Tampa behind you, as well. How much pride do you take in coming from that area, and what would you say that Tampa Bay Tech did for your football career?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: Yeah, I grew up in Dade City like 30 minutes outside of Tampa. Moved to Tampa for high school. But I've always had love and support from both cities. I feel like my dad, he's the guy that set just that love and that support in Dade City because he was a well-respected player and coach there whenever I was growing up.

And then moving to Tampa, I felt like I had to make a name for myself. It's a city that's right up the road, but at the same time, it's two totally different worlds. When I was in Dade City -- I'm going to be honest, in Florida, you don't really hear outside of your city much. You don't really go outside of your city. I wasn't going to Tampa. I wasn't going to Miami and spring break and all that. It's like, I've got all that here.

I can speak for Dade City, it's a small city so everything was right there. That's all I knew was Dade City. Then moving to Tampa, I had to adjust to that.

I have a lot of support, and a lot of people that seen me at a young age growing up and coming up and shaping me into the person that I am today, so I appreciate that support always.

Q. Troy told me that it wasn't until (indiscernible). Why was that the right time and why did you wait that long to have that conversation with him?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: I think he's talking about a totally different situation. I feel like everybody knew about my injuries and stuff like that. He's talking about more personal stuff that I'm not going to really get into right now. But I think he's talking about a time in a chapel session.

But it was just the time presented itself, and our chaplain asked us if anybody had anything to say, tell their testimony and stuff like that. And I felt like it was the right time to do it, just knowing that I had a team that trusted me and a team that I trusted, as well.

Q. With the injury, how did you keep the confidence that one day you would get the chance to play a full season?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: Yeah, just trusting in my faith, just trusting that God has a plan for me, a plan that I might not see right then and there. But playing for hope in the future.

I actually got that tatted on my arm. That's what I live by. If I'm going to live by that, I've got to live by that each and every day. Whenever times get hard, I can't change up. I've just got to continue to lean on my faith even more.

Q. When did you get the tat?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: I just got that tat like two or three years ago. But I feel like it was perfect for me. But it's a verse that I've always known.

Q. Who handles protections for you and how have you worked on some of the twists that Michigan poses?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: I mean, within me and the offensive line coach, we go through it throughout the week. We do so many different protection drills and stuff like that each and every day to help us be ready and prepared for the game.

But when it comes game time, it's all on me. If you see somebody coming free, it's probably my fault because my O-line doesn't really let people come free.

Q. Day game or night game?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: Day game.

Q. Text or FaceTime?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: Text.

Q. What's your go-to hype song?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: Anything SCY Jimm. I don't have one.

Q. Who's the best dancer on your team?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: Dancer? Mish Powell.

Q. What's your favorite memory this season?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: Winning the Sugar Bowl so far.

Q. If Coach DeBoer had an NIL deal, what would it be?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: Oh, hold on. Coach DeBoer? If he had an NIL deal? No, I can't answer that. I can't answer what I was about to say.

Q. Go-to pregame hype song?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: Anything SCY Jimm.

Q. Who is the most underrated dude on this team?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: I don't feel like anybody is underrated. I feel like everybody is getting their respect that they deserve for sure.

Q. Favorite sports movie?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: I'll say The Longest Yard.

Q. What's your favorite pass concept?

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: Vert, forward vert.

Q. (Indiscernible).

MICHAEL PENIX JR.: Yeah, he definitely did do that. He showed us each and every week. Every Monday -- no, that's actually on Sundays, he shows us that, just reminds us. He's always counting down, we've got that much more days, this much more days. It just shows the belief he's had in us since day one and in this team.

It definitely just allows us to be able to go out there and just have fun, just knowing that we have a coach that's going to believe in us no matter what.