BREAKING: Indiana QB Michael Penix Jr. wins Big Ten Freshman of the Week honor again
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Indiana quarterback Michael Penix Jr. was named the Big Ten's Freshman of the Week for the second time this season after his brilliant performance on Saturday at Michigan State.
The Hoosiers lost 40-31 to the Spartans, negating a sensational effort by Penix, who set a school record with 20 consecutive completion and finished the day 33 of 42 passing for 286 yards, with three passing touchdowns and one rushing touchdown.
The Tampa, Fla., native was making his first-career road start, but you would have never known it considering the numbers he posted. The consecutive passing streak was the second-longest in Big Ten history, topped only by the 22 consecutive passes completed by Iowa's Chuck Long in 1984, coincidentally against Indiana.
On the season, the 6-foot-3, 205-pound left-hander is 71 of102 passing for 809 yards, with six touchdown passes and two interceptions. He also has rushed for 75 yards and a touchdown.
Other Big Ten awards went to Minnesota quarterback Tanner Morgan and Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford as Offensive Players of the Week, Chris Orr of Wisconsin was Defensive Player of the Week and Jacob Herbers of Minnesota was Special Teams Player of the Week.
Penix's two awards this season are the only two received by an Indiana player so far this year.
Indiana is 3-2 on the season and 0-2 in the Big Ten. The Hoosiers are off this week, but return to action on Oct. 12 for a home game against Rutgers. The Homecoming game in Bloomington starts at Noon ET.
