Michael Penix Jr. details how hard it was to get over national championship game loss

It was a magical season for Michael Penix Jr. and Washington overall, but it didn’t end the way anyone in the Huskies program wanted it to.

Penix set the goal of winning a national championship during the preseason, and he nearly accomplished it, coming up one victory short.

The senior struggled in the national title game against Michigan, completing 27 of 51 passes for 255 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions. Penix joined the NFL Network from the Senior Bowl on Tuesday and shared how difficult it was to get over the loss to Michigan in the national championship game.

“I’ll be honest, it took me a few days,” Michael Penix Jr. explained. “I said from the beginning I wanted to win a national championship. We fell just short. But I can’t be nothing but proud of my team and the coaches, for everybody in our room continuing to believe when everybody else on the outside didn’t believe in us.”

Washington entered the national title game undefeated, including a pair of wins over Pac-12 contender Oregon.

The Ducks were favored by 9.5 points in the Pac-12 Championship Game, but Penix and company found a way to win. Washington had six wins over ranked teams on its way to the national championship game, defeating Oregon twice, as well as USC, Utah, Oregon State and Texas. Even though the Huskies came up just short, it was still an incredible season overall.

“We put in a whole bunch of work to be able to get to that point. I know me and the guys, it hurts that we fell short, but I’m proud of everybody and proud of what we were able to accomplish and proud of what I was able to accomplish with my team while I was at the University of Washington.

Michael Penix Jr. dishes on relationship with Oregon QB Bo Nix during Senior Bowl week 

Michael Penix Jr. and Bo Nix were rivals in college as Washington and Oregon were the top two teams in the Pac-12 this past season.

However, the two also share a mutual respect and friendship as they prepare to take their talents to the NFL.

Michael Penix Jr. spoke with the NFL Network on Tuesday about Bo Nix and what he is like as a player and person.

“Yea man, Bo is an incredible guy,” Penix said. “He comes out here, works extremely hard, on the field, off the field, he’s a man of principles and morals. He comes out here and works. We’ve been having a good connection.”