Penix Hopes to Put On Third Fireworks Show in East Lansing
Michigan State football followers know all about quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and what he can do, and probably thought they'd seen the last of the anointed one at Spartan Stadium.
But, no, the left-hander will come through East Lansing, Michigan, for a third and final time on Saturday, putting his gunslinger skills on display once more for a rowdy crowd upwards of 70,000 to agonize over.
All that's different are the uniform colors, with Penix having traded in his Indiana crimson and cream for Washington's purple and gold after hitting the transfer portal in the winter of 2022.
The arm strength is still the same for him, as is the savvy and swagger. Possibly his confidence level has gone up yet another notch since he began working with Husky mad scientist Ryan Grubb, also known as the UW offensive coordinator.
"We got a lot of things we can do and I would hate to be a defensive coordinator going against Coach Grubb," Penix said. "He's a guy who makes sure we're prepared each and every day. Every time I snap the ball, I know where I want to go with the ball and I really have no problems reading the defenses they give me."
Michael Penix Jr. split a pair of games at Michigan State while at Indiana.
USA TODAY Sports
Oh, and one more point of contention.
"Different things we might not have seen on film, and they did it today, we're able to adjust — and that's what makes us great," he said after the Tulsa game. "Coach Grubb makes sure we're ready for anything they might throw at us."
Considering what happened back in 2019 and 2020, Michigan State somehow needs to assume the same posture, which is be prepared for everything with this guy originally from Tampa, Florida, and seemingly NFL-bound.
The first time Michigan State encountered Penix at its cozy stadium four years ago, he absolutely shredded the Spartans secondary and he and the Hoosiers valiantly took this September game down to the final five seconds before losing 40-31 in a game far closer than the score.
With a guy named Kalen DeBoer serving as offensive coordinator and calling the Indiana plays that day from the press box, Penix had an incredible stretch in which he completed 20 consecutive passes, two off the Big Ten record, with his 21st also caught, but just out of bounds.
With a crowd of 71,048 on hand to witness his high-level proficiency, Penix completed 33 of 42 attempts for 286 yards and 3 touchdowns.
DeBoer had him mix things up and throw to seven different receivers.
Together, they did everything but win that game, with Michigan State kicking a tie-breaking field goal with a scant five seconds remaining and scoring a final touchdown thereafter when Indiana tried to make something creative happen on the ensuing kickoff and ended up fumbling the ball away in the end zone for a meaningless Spartans touchdown.
A year later, Penix and Indiana returned to East Lansing. This trip went so much better, with the Hoosiers registering a convincing 24-0 win. Nick Sheridan served as his offensive coordinator after DeBoer became the Fresno State coach and Penix completed 25 of 38 attempts for 320 yards and 2 touchdowns. It mattered little to anyone that the temperature never got above a brisk 38 degrees for this COVID-delayed, late November outing.
For good measure, Penix won a rubber match over Michigan State 39-28 in Seattle last year, completing 24 of 40 passes for 397 yards and 4 touchdowns, 3 to Ja'Lynn Polk. DeBoer was the UW coach, Sheridan the Husky tight-ends coach and Grubb now the offensive coordinator, making for a lot of offensive brainpower congregated all in one place with a guy to execute it.
East Lansing better brace itself for the third installment of Michael Penix Jr. in town and all of his college football fireworks. He's as confident and productive as ever in coming back to the Michigan State campus for a third visit. He sounds and looks ready.
"We try to be perfect, but nobody's perfect," he said. "Our offense is going to put up points. That's what we go out to do."
No one at Michigan State needs any convincing of this.
Go to si.com/college/washington to read the latest Inside the Huskies stories — as soon as they’re published. Not all stories are posted on the fan sites.
Find Inside the Huskies on Facebook by searching: Inside Huskies/FanNation at SI.com or https://www.facebook.com/dan.raley.12
Follow Dan Raley of Inside the Huskies on Twitter: @DanRaley1 or @UWFanNation or @DanRaley3
Have a question, direct message me on Facebook or Twitter.
