Joel Klatt explains voting Michael Penix Jr. for Heisman Trophy

Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. finished second in the voting for the Heisman Trophy in New York on Saturday. However, of his 292 first place votes, Joel Klatt was one who cast his ballot for the Huskies’ QB1.

Klatt explained why he went with Penix Jr. over LSU’s Jayden Daniels, the eventual winner, during his show on Monday. He started by fully sharing his order from his vote in the name of clarity with the audience.

“I’m always of the belief that transparency is the best way to cover the sport,” said Klatt. “I threw out there, on Twitter, how I voted. You’re allowed three votes and my vote went Michael Penix Jr., Jayden Daniels at No. 2, and No. 3 was Bo Nix at Oregon.”

That’s when Klatt got into his breakdown of taking Penix Jr. over Daniels. In his opinion, Penix Jr. had a better case based on Washington’s final record. Their status as a conference champion and playoff team elevated his importance as their best player.

Add in how well he performed, especially in some of their biggest moments and when his best was required, and Klatt felt as though leaning toward Penix Jr. was the correct choice.

“First of all, Washington? Their last nine wins were by 10 points or less – won all of them. This is an undefeated team, won the Pac-12 which was the deepest and best conference in America. They did so because, specifically, of their quarterback play and their passing game,” Klatt explained. “Penix had to be great. Otherwise? They lose – similar to Jayden Daniels and Daniels was unable to overcome his defense. Yet Penix was able to overcome what I feel like were weaknesses around him within that program, namely, at times, that defense.”

“It is accurate to state that this guy was the most important player on the field by a wide margin for this team who relied on their passing game. In their last nine wins? They had to win those by 10 points or less. So he had to be great in every one of those moments and he was against really good competition as well,” continued Klatt. “Michael Penix Jr. was 4-0 against the CFP Top-25. Meanwhile, a guy like Jayden Daniels? He was only 1-3.”

Penix Jr. threw for over 4,200 yards and 33 touchdowns this season on 65.9% completion. That production helped the Huskies win the Pac-12 and claim a spot in the College Football Playoff as an undefeated champ out of their league.

Klatt did his best to not take anything away from Daniels’ numbers that helped him take the award home this past weekend. Still, in his mind, Penix Jr. edged out the Tigers’ quarterback based on what he did in Seattle this season.

“Here’s Penix, who is the most important player on an undefeated team that wins the toughest conference in the country while playing nine league games. And he’s doing so in close matchups and against really good opponents,” said Klatt. “Here he is in some of his most important games? Including a game in which he is a 10-point underdog as an undefeated in the conference championship? He goes 27-39 for 319 and a touchdown in a win against Oregon, his second of the year by the way.”

“There’s something to be said for that, something to be said. I evaluate Penix that way,” Klatt said.