Michael Penix Jr. insist that Michigan didn’t accomplished anything significant.

Heading into the national championship game against Michigan, Michael Penix Jr. had an impressive season, leading the nation with 4,648 passing yards, 35 touchdowns, and nine interceptions. This performance earned him the Heisman runner-up position. However, facing Michigan’s No. 2 passing defense on Monday night, Penix Jr. had his toughest game of the season, resulting in Washington’s 34-13 loss to the Wolverines.

During the game, Penix Jr. completed 27 of 51 passes for 255 yards, managing one passing touchdown and enduring two interceptions. Pro Football Focus reported that Michigan applied pressure on Penix Jr. during 17 of his dropbacks. On those occasions, he only completed 3 of 15 passes for 14 yards, resulting in one touchdown, two interceptions, one sack, and a five-yard rush. Throughout the game, Michigan consistently made Penix Jr. uncomfortable, and by the end, he was visibly battered, bruised, and limping.

While Michigan’s defense objectively performed exceptionally well, Penix Jr. chose not to acknowledge the Wolverines for the credit they rightfully deserved.

Michael Penix Jr. commented, “They’re a good team. We just didn’t execute in the moments when we needed to. It’s just about executing. I don’t feel like they did anything— feel like we beat ourselves. And there were times we definitely had opportunities to make big-time plays, to make the game a lot different. But it comes down to executing. They’re a good team, but we had a lot of opportunities.”

However, Penix Jr.’s assertion that Michigan didn’t do anything and the idea that Washington beat themselves is unfounded and impractical. Michigan prevailed in the trenches, consistently applying pressure to Penix Jr. and disrupting his timing throughout the game. This doesn’t reflect a team beating itself; it showcases one team physically dominating another. Moreover, Penix Jr.’s statement, “I don’t feel like they did anything,” seems contradictory when considering that the Wolverines intercepted him twice. Michigan indeed executed well, and that’s why they emerged victorious in the national championship. While a player might sometimes claim they beat themselves, in this case, Michigan secured the win through hard work and effective execution.