Kalen DeBoer: Michael Penix Jr. was 'on a mission' to make national championship in Year 2

One year ago, Kalen DeBoer was coming off his first season as Washington head coach, and his quarterback had a big decision to make. The Huskies were a few days removed from an Alamo Bowl victory over Texas, and Michael Penix Jr. could’ve tested the NFL Draft after transferring from Indiana.

Instead, Penix came back. And Monday night — well, technically, Tuesday morning — the confetti rained down at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans after he and DeBoer got one step closer to the ultimate goal.

In a rematch of that Alamo Bowl, Washington defeated Texas 37-31 in the Sugar Bowl. Penix led the charge, throwing for 430 yards and two touchdowns to win the game’s MOP award. But his decision to come back lit a spark in more ways than one, and DeBoer said this is exactly why he did.

“He’s been on a mission,” DeBoer told Molly McGrath after accepting the Sugar Bowl trophy. “It’s a year ago when he chose to come back, and a lot of other guys I think followed his lead.

“Even the last month, just everything he’s done, leading our football team all day today, each and every drive, just making the plays he needed to to help us find a way to win.”

How Kalen DeBoer turned Washington into a national title contender in just two years

For DeBoer, Monday’s game marked the next step in his impressive turnaround in Seattle. Just 27 games and not even two full year into his tenure, he has a 25-2 record and is taking UW the national championship. It’s a far cry from two years ago when the Huskies finished 4-8, and it would’ve been far-fetched to think the Huskies could get this far so soon after the departure of Jimmy Lake.

Now, they’re one win away from their first national title since 1991. As for how DeBoer’s team punched its ticket to the title game soon so quickly, it was simple.

“They all stuck together,” DeBoer said. “And these guys are the most resilient guys I’ve ever been around. They made a goal, they all came back to do something special.

“These guys, I just can’t say enough about how much I love them. They just keep bringing it each and every day, each and every week, to achieve the goals that they set forth a year ago.”

Washington will now regroup and get ready to head to NRG Stadium next week to take on Michigan. That game takes place Jan. 8 at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN.