Michael Penix Jr. reveals reaction to being underdogs vs. Oregon ahead of College Football Playoff

Michael Penix Jr. already beat Oregon once and boy, he did it again in the Pac-12 Championship. But before the Heimsan finalist led Washington to the College Football Playoff with a 13-0 season, the Huskies were nearly 10-point underdogs to the Ducks.

Despite beating them earlier in the year, Vegas liked Oregon on a neutral field in Las Vegas to take the Pac-12 crown and get to the CFP.

Penix Jr. had the last laugh as he led Washington to another win and the No. 2 seed in the field.

“Yeah, man, it was a lot of things said, you know, but we just knew we had to go out there execute at the end of the day,” Penix Jr. said on SportsCenter. “You know, so that’s what it was always about. Just trying not to let that distract us, not trying to let that, you know, make us get out of our game but you know, just go out there and play our game and we knew as long as we (did) that, that will be enough.”

In the 34-31 win, Penix Jr. finished with 319 yards, one touchdown and one interception. It wasn’t the gaudiest game stat wise, but he made clutch throws to get the Huskies the title.

“Yeah, for our team and we don’t play for anybody else’s expectations,” Penix Jr. said. “You know, we came in a season with our motto as ‘us versus us.’ That’s just highlighting everything that goes on in our room is what it’s all about. It’s not about what you know, other people on the outside because they don’t know all the work and you know, all the grind that we put in to be able to get in a position that we’re at today. 

“So, you know, just having that mindset to understand that, you know, just go out there and play and have fun and play worry free. You know, not worrying about anything on the outside but what this team has.”

Penix Jr. and Washington take on Texas in the Sugar Bowl New Year’s Day in the second College Football Playoff semifinal game of the day.

This is only the second time the Huskies made the CFP, but it certainly seems like a different squad this time around. One thing’s for sure, Penix Jr. and his teammates expected this.

Not only that, don’t disrespect them with that spread either.