NEW YORK CITY, N.Y. — Despite being the only finalist who led his team to the College Football Playoff, the University of Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. did not win the Heisman Trophy on Saturday night.
Jayden Daniels, Louisiana State University quarterback, was announced as the winner during the Heisman ceremony in New York City with 503 first-place votes. Penix Jr. finished second in the final voting, garnering 292 first-place votes among 1,701 total points.
Penix Jr. won the Heisman Fan Vote.
Penix finished in the top 10 of the voting for the second straight year, leading UW to a Pacific-12 Conference title while pacing the country in passing yards with 4,218. Penix was tied for third with 33 passing touchdowns on the season as well.
The southpaw was the betting favorite for the award over much of the early part of the season, but struggled in the month of October after a brilliant September. Close wins over Arizona State University and Stanford University in which Penix played poorly by his lofty standards hurt his candidacy.
Penix now turns his attention to the College Football Playoff, where his Huskies will meet the University of Texas Longhorns in the Sugar Bowl at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. A win in the Big Easy would grant UW the chance to win its first national championship since 1991.
Originally a transfer to UW from Indiana University, Penix’s time with the Huskies saw the team reach historic heights. Washington is 24-2 over the past two seasons, and Penix has played in every possible game despite an injury history that has dimmed his NFL prospects.
Whether he leads the Huskies to a win over Texas or not, Penix has cemented himself as one of the great quarterbacks, if not greatest players to ever wear a Husky uniform.
