Washington likely our opponent. Penix has incredible touch. Thoughts?
Hard to root against Washington. And thank you for taking out one of the all-time coaching frauds Steve Sarkisian. UW, much like UM, has been underestimated all year. And yet they are 14-0 and obviously an elite team. They're hard to figure out. Other than Penix, they don't seem outstanding anywhere, and yet they win. They have been in relative control all night against a Texas team that many thought was the best in the country.
January 2nd, 2024 at 12:38 AM ^
They are not soft though. Gonna be a big challenge but I think we can wear them down on offense
January 2nd, 2024 at 10:05 AM ^
To me it feels like 2021 OSU except we don't have Hutch and Ojabo and Penix is willing to run from time to time
January 2nd, 2024 at 12:33 AM ^
Why do I keep seeing shots of Penix on the sidelines, facing away from the camera, bent over a bench, looking like he is going to throw up?
I would guess Barner and Tuttle would have some insights here.
January 2nd, 2024 at 1:02 AM ^
He did that against Oregon too. Just a weird thing he does, I guess.
January 2nd, 2024 at 2:05 AM ^
You can’t rip lines on national TV
January 2nd, 2024 at 12:33 AM ^
I'd have rather played Texas. Might legit get 8 sacks on Ewers.
But Washington. What I've said all year long still stands - they are a one trick pony. Now that one trick is damned good - Penix has outstanding accuracy and they have four or five receivers that would be the #2 receiver on OSU behind MHJ.
They are like a better OSU and also an OSU lite. Their pass offense is better. Their O line is better. Their QB is far better. Their receiving corps top to bottom is better. But OSU is better in every other unit.
Run the ball, dominate time of possession. See how Penix reacts when facing the best defensive line he's seen all year.
January 2nd, 2024 at 12:37 AM ^
One trick pony?
January 2nd, 2024 at 1:01 AM ^
Meaning they have one way to win - pass for a thousand yards and hope the opponent cannot keep up. As opposed to Alabama, who can win with QB runs, power runs, deep passes, suffocating defense, turnovers, time of possession, frenzied drives, they can do any of it. The scariest teams are the ones that can beat you multiple ways.
January 2nd, 2024 at 1:30 AM ^
UW ran for 157 yards against Oregon on the Pac12 championship. They can run the ball.
Now...their horse RB Dillon Johnson limped off the field in the closing minutes of tonight's game and that would be a huge blow if he were to not be available (he will...but how healthy we shall see).
January 2nd, 2024 at 1:09 AM ^
You forgot one thing, though. Their defense is utter garbage. OSU had a legitimate defense this year. Washington's is best suited for showing up in the opposition's highlight reels.
January 2nd, 2024 at 1:37 AM ^
Kinda hard to gage how good OSU's defense was, because they played a lot of really lousy offenses this year.
January 2nd, 2024 at 2:19 AM ^
It's good. They held a good Mizzou offense to 14 points - it's lowest of the season - with absolutely zero help from their own offense, which kept them on the field all night.
January 2nd, 2024 at 2:07 AM ^
Give me a break. If you could’ve chosen a semifinal opponent it would’ve been UW not Bama or Texas. Texas is not back and their QB choked on his last 5 throws.
January 2nd, 2024 at 12:07 PM ^
Mmm, Odunze and Egbuka would be pretty close for WR#2 on OSU's roster. No one else on Washington's roster is nearly as good as Egbuka.
January 2nd, 2024 at 12:33 AM ^
Pound the rock. Work the clock. Wear then down physically. Bend don't break and find a couple turnovers.
Don't get into a shoot out. NO punt returns of any kind
January 2nd, 2024 at 12:35 AM ^
Jesus Christ, who'd have thought our punt returns would be such a nightmare.
January 2nd, 2024 at 12:39 AM ^
Why are we catching punts inside the 5 yard line?
We had a special teams melt down all in one game.
January 2nd, 2024 at 12:36 AM ^
Pound The Rock.
Work The Clock.
Beat The Cock (Penix).
January 2nd, 2024 at 12:33 AM ^
These other conferences don't play much defense, so their offenses look like basketball on grass. I think we keep the game close and become a constrictor slowly squeezing them until they can't breathe while applying more pressure to their defense with our running game which they cannot stop because their defense is soft and then we can throw deep with play action and sack their QB because their OL is soft because they never play anyone else with a good defense and they are complacent and overconfident and...what was the question?
January 2nd, 2024 at 12:34 AM ^
It will be an "all Big-Ten" National Championship game.
Suck it, SEC.
January 2nd, 2024 at 12:57 AM ^
Screw the big ten.
Michigan vs Everybody.
January 2nd, 2024 at 12:34 AM ^
Penix continues to rise to the occasion - penetrating deep into his opponents. They are good, but we are also good - really good. Will be a challenge, and I think our men will be up for it.
January 2nd, 2024 at 12:35 AM ^
I prefer Washington as the opponent. Washington's D is a MUCH better matchup for us than Texas' D. They will score with Penix and their receivers. But Michigan's D will at least slow them down. Michigan has the best D in the nation and they have not seen anything close to that. Plus, Washington's dline is just not that good so Michigan should be able to run and control the clock.
January 2nd, 2024 at 1:39 AM ^
Also, if Michigan does end up losing, I'd rather it be to Washington than Texas.
January 2nd, 2024 at 12:36 AM ^
Penix is good. So is our defense.
I don’t think they can stop our offense.
January 2nd, 2024 at 1:03 AM ^
This is where I’m at. Our secondary is gonna get got by Penix a time or two, but their run game will struggle and they really will be a one trick pony.
With their pass defense I could see JJ having big game, and the run game will get to take whatever it wants.
January 2nd, 2024 at 12:08 PM ^
Agreed. Let's hope accurate J.J. shows up, though
January 2nd, 2024 at 12:36 AM ^
Washington RB gets injured on garbage time carry? Hate it for the kid, hope he is 100% soon.
January 2nd, 2024 at 5:37 AM ^
"Garbage time"?
Ewers had 3 redzone throws into the endzone at the end of that game. Connecting on any of them would've given Texas the W.
How was any part of that game "garbage time"?!
January 2nd, 2024 at 10:42 AM ^
If UW takes a knee instead of running the ball, Texas gets the ball with like 15 seconds left in the game.
January 2nd, 2024 at 12:36 AM ^
RB just got hurt to stop the clock. In a ton of pain. He's an underrated part of their offense.
January 2nd, 2024 at 12:37 AM ^
I think Sark is a good coach now that he's off the sauce.
Penix throws a great deep ball, so we need to take that away and knock put him on his ass.
Minter will be ready. Jaybaugh and Moore better be too.
January 2nd, 2024 at 1:02 AM ^
Until this year (which includes 2 years at Texas) Sark has never failed to lose at least 4 games. He's a mediocre coach coming from a crappy conference who had an Ogeron/Chizik year and failed.
January 2nd, 2024 at 2:12 AM ^
He’s not going to have enough time to chuck it deep accurately.
January 2nd, 2024 at 12:10 PM ^
Yeah, we need to get heat on Penix. Even if it costs us on a few busts, we can't let him get comfortable in the pocket. Do not want Penix sliding freely around the pocket.
January 2nd, 2024 at 12:37 AM ^
Fuck, i feel terrible for that kid. Why not just kneel it???!!!!
January 2nd, 2024 at 12:39 AM ^
Trying to get a first down to avoid the punt. They were going to have to kick even if the clock didn't stop.
January 2nd, 2024 at 12:43 AM ^
I guess, but you know in those situations everyone is clutching and grabbing and trying anything they can to stop the guy.
January 2nd, 2024 at 12:38 AM ^
Penix hasn't been touched tonight. We need to get pressure & hit him, he's fragile. Obviously will be tough with his OL winning the Joe Moore this year. And obviously defend Odunze & Polk on the deep ball.
January 2nd, 2024 at 12:38 AM ^
Holy shit their top RB Dillon Johnson is injured and not looking great coming off the field.
(Ergo...now my vote for the NCG MVP)
January 2nd, 2024 at 12:39 AM ^
Horrible to see a guy hurt in the final minute. The kid had 21 carries and 2 TDs 3 catches against Texas. Wow big loss if he’s a no go.
January 2nd, 2024 at 12:39 AM ^
If 〽️ dominates both line of scrimmages and controls the ball, the wolverines will win.
Washington is a better team than Bama.
〽️ wins its first natty since 1997.
January 2nd, 2024 at 12:11 PM ^
Washington is not better than Bama. No way
January 2nd, 2024 at 12:39 AM ^
Washington what is you doin dawg?!
January 2nd, 2024 at 12:39 AM ^
I had to look it up because I don’t know much about Texas geography. But Houston is just a 60 minute drive from Texas’ campus. So it’s nice to know we won’t be playing a team that will basically have a home game…kind of like all the Rose Bowls we played against USC.
However…Penix is scary good. He was always good when he was at IU but he’s just a freak of nature now. Nobody is going to be able to contain him. We have to outscore them. I’ll have to research how good Washington’s defense is because nobody really plays defense in the PAC 10.
Also, it’s obvious we can’t make all the special teams mistakes we had tonight.
January 2nd, 2024 at 12:40 AM ^
Houston/NRG Stadium is ~3 hours (in good traffic) from UT’s campus. And it’s never good traffic once you hit Katy.
That said, still happy to not be playing basically an away game vs them…though Washington is folding as we speak.
January 2nd, 2024 at 12:44 AM ^
Announcers keep saying UW's pàss D is turrible.
January 2nd, 2024 at 12:45 AM ^
You confused Texas with A&M, which is a hangin' crime in parts of Texas.
January 2nd, 2024 at 12:39 AM ^
Oh man, Washington what you doing?
January 2nd, 2024 at 12:39 AM ^
Uhhh this game isn't over....