If you’ve spent any time watching the NFL over the last year, you’ve definitely heard the name. Michael Penix Jr. is the lefty with the cannon arm who basically forced the Atlanta Falcons to rethink their entire future. But his path to the pros wasn't exactly a straight line. People often ask where did Michael Penix Jr. go to college, and the answer is actually a tale of two very different cities: Bloomington and Seattle.
Most fans remember the high-flying highlights from 2023, but the real story starts way before the purple and gold jerseys.
The Indiana Years: Potential Meets Pain
Penix started his college career at Indiana University. Honestly, if you only saw him at Washington, you missed a wild, albeit frustrating, chapter. He arrived in Bloomington in 2018 as a three-star recruit from Florida. He wasn't the biggest name on the board, but coaches knew he had "it."
The problem? Luck. Or a total lack of it.
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During his four seasons with the Hoosiers (2018–2021), Penix suffered four straight season-ending injuries. We’re talking torn ACLs and shoulder issues that would have made most players hang up the cleats for good. It was brutal to watch because, when he was on the field, Indiana looked like a totally different program. In 2020, he led them to a top-10 ranking and that legendary win over Penn State where he dove for the pylon. That play is basically Indiana folklore now.
But by the end of 2021, after another injury, it felt like the spark in Bloomington had flickered out. He needed a fresh start, and he needed a coach who knew exactly how to use that massive arm.
The Washington Resurgence
In December 2021, Penix hit the transfer portal. He headed west to the University of Washington, reuniting with Kalen DeBoer, who had been his offensive coordinator back at Indiana. This move changed everything.
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Seattle was where the "Michael Penix Jr." we know today was truly born.
- 2022 Season: He stayed healthy. That was the headline. He led the nation in passing yards per game (357) and threw for over 4,600 yards.
- 2023 Season: This was the masterpiece. He didn't just play well; he dominated. He led the Huskies to an undefeated regular season and a Pac-12 Championship.
The 2023 season culminated in a massive win over Texas in the Sugar Bowl, where Penix looked like a video game character. He eventually led Washington all the way to the National Championship game against Michigan. Even though they didn't take home the trophy, Penix walked away as the Heisman Trophy runner-up and the Maxwell Award winner.
Why the Two-School Path Matters
When you look at where Michael Penix Jr. went to college, you see more than just two team names on a resume. You see the evolution of a modern quarterback. At Indiana, he learned resilience. He dealt with the "injury prone" label that followed him for years.
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At Washington, he proved that with the right system and a bit of health, he was the best pure passer in the country. He finished his college career with 13,741 passing yards and 96 touchdowns. That’s a lot of football.
His journey is a perfect example of why the transfer portal exists. Sometimes a player isn't "bad" or "done"—they just need the right zip code.
Moving to the Big Leagues
The Atlanta Falcons eventually took him 8th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, a move that shocked everyone since they had just signed Kirk Cousins. But for those who followed his college days at Indiana and Washington, it made sense. You don't pass up an arm like that.
As of early 2026, he’s already had a rollercoaster start in the NFL, dealing with the typical rookie growing pains and some injury setbacks, but the talent he showed in college remains undeniable.
Next Steps for Fans:
If you want to understand his game better, go back and watch the 2023 Apple Cup or the 2020 Indiana vs. Ohio State game. You’ll see the two sides of a player who refused to let injuries define his career. Keeping an eye on the Falcons' depth chart this season will tell you if that "college magic" is ready to take over the NFC South.