Michael Penix Jr. calls College Football Playoff National Championship berth 'a dream come true'

Moments like these are the ones Michael Penix Jr. dreamed of when he was rehabbing his both of his ACL tears and joint dislocations in both shoulders.

In his final chance to make his mark on college football, Penix Jr. has led Washington to an undefeated season, becoming a Heisman Trophy finalist, a Pac-12 Championship and a College Football Playoff National Championship game berth. According to the Huskies’ QB1, he’s taking in every moment.

“It’s a dream come true,” Penix Jr. said on Saturday during CFP Championship media day. “To be honest, I’m still wrapping my head around it. I’m just super blessed to be in this position. It is something that you know, you dream of his kids coming 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 definitely is showing that it has paid off. But obviously, we’ve got to make it happen.”

That’s obviously easier said than done, going up against a Michigan defense that is ranked at the top of every statistical category there is. While it’s true that Penix Jr. has yet to see a defense this strong yet this season — but Michigan hasn’t played a quarterback like Penix Jr., who is seemingly playing his best football at the moment.

In the Pac-12 title game and College Football Playoff semifinal combined, Penix Jr. has combined for 749 yards and three touchdown passes on a 73% completion percentage. His team is averaging around five touchdowns per game over that stretch. Meanwhile, Michigan hasn’t allowed more than three touchdowns in any game all season.

On the season, Penix Jr. has compiled 4,648 passing yards and 35 touchdowns through the air while adding three more scores on the ground. Averaging 332 passing yards per game this season, the Wolverines allow 243.1 total yards per game, let alone just 150 yards passing per game on average to boot. Michigan has also allowed just 16 total touchdowns per game this year.

The Wolverines will undoubtedly be the Huskies’ stiffest test of the season — and for the national championship no less. Everything goes down on Jan. 8 when the College Football National Championship game kicks off from NRG Stadium in Houston. The opening kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET live on ESPN.

Michigan will enter Monday’s matchup as a 4.5-point betting favorite, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. The over/under total is set at 56.5 points.