Desmond Howard puts Washington over Georgia, Alabama in College Football Playoff race

ESPN college football analyst Desmond Howard had a up close and personal view of Washington this past weekend, watching its 36-33 victory over Oregon from the sidelines.

Appearing on ESPN2’s College Football Live on Tuesday, Howard explained that the offense, led by Michael Penix Jr., is electric.

“Guys, I tell you what,” Howard said. “To watch them live and in-person right there on the sideline was just amazing. I mean, this offense is so dynamic, so explosive. You know, before the game, I said they’ve probably got the best three receivers in the country. I just think they’ve got the best receiver room. They can go for five deep. You see Giles Jackson right there, transfer from Michigan. He caught the first touchdown. Odunze is one of the top receivers in the country.”

Rome Odunze is a Biletnikoff Award favorite after starting the season with 40 catches for 736 yards and six touchdowns. His 736 receiving yards are third in the country with the two players ranked ahead of him each playing in one more game than he has so far. He leads the deep receiver room that includes Giles Jackson.

Jackson returned from injury Saturday to make six catches for 58 yards and one score. Ja’Lynn Polk is second on the team with 32 catches for 586 yards and five touchdowns.

Penix is the Heisman Trophy favorite at the halfway point of the college football season with 2301 passing yards, 20 touchdowns and only three interceptions.

Howard said the dynamic offensive group they have is underrated in the country, as he would pick the Huskies over Alabama and Georgia to have a better finish in the College Football Playoff.

“So watching this group, guys, I said two weeks ago that I would pick Washington over Georgia or Alabama if I had a chance to do my College Football Playoff preseason prediction again,” Howard said. “I would definitely, Greg, at this point, put Washington over Alabama or Georgia as one of my top four teams to finish in the College Football Playoff simply because, Greg, they have Michael Penix Jr., who’s better than either quarterback at Alabama or Georgia.”

Washington has only made the College Football Playoff once in 2016. The Huskies were a 12-1 Pac-12 champion and earned the No. 4 seed in the postseason. They lost the Peach Bowl to the Crimson Tide.