The national title game between Michigan and Washington is just over 48 hours away and Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh is eager to see what Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. can do.
Speaking to the media on Saturday, Harbaugh declared that the Heisman Trophy runner-up has the “it” factor. He said that Penix confidently places the ball in tight windows and can put his receivers in a position to make a play.
Harbaugh also said that he considers Penix to be equally dangerous when he’s in or outside of the picket. He concluded that Penix is simply “elite.”
“He’s just got the ‘it’ factor. He’s got no conscience when he’s throwing one of those balls into the tightest window & the confidence that he can put it in there & his receivers are going to make a play. I mean, that’s scary good. As good as he is in the pocket, he’s deadly when he gets out of the pocket, too, in either direction. It’s formidable. It’s elite,” Harbaugh said, via Brett McMurphy of Action Network.
Jim Harbaugh on Michael Penix Jr.: “He’s just got the ‘it’ factor. He’s got no conscience when he’s throwing one of those balls into the tightest window & the confidence that he can put it in there & his receivers are going to make a play. I mean, that’s scary good. As good as he…
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) January 6, 2024
Jim Harbaugh has actually coached against Penix before back when Penix was the starting quarterback at Indiana. Penix led the Hoosiers to an historic upset win over Harbaugh’s Wolverines during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.
This will be a very different experience for both of them though.
Who will come out on top?