Michael Penix Jr. will run it back with Washington.

The Huskies came excruciatingly close to the Pac-12 Championship Game in coach Kalen DeBoer’s (and Penix’s) first season at Washington. The 10-2 Huskies will seek their 11th win in the Alamo Bowl. But Penix is looking for bigger and better things in 2023. The fifth-year junior announced on social media Sunday evening that he’ll return for his sixth year.

“After long talks with coaches, family, and other trusted supporters, I have to make one of the hardest decisions of my life for what I felt was best for my future,” he said. “As I look back on this special season we had, I realize there are so many great moments and things to celebrate, but I know for sure there is so much out there for this team and the job is still not finished.

“I can’t wait to be back in Husky Stadium for the 2023 season.”

Penix spent four years at Indiana. In three seasons as a full-time starter, he never played in more than six games. Injuries were a major part of his story in Bloomington, ending each of his final three years prematurely. He entered the transfer portal last offseason seeking a fresh start.

With DeBoer — his coordinator at IU in 2019 — landing in Seattle and UW looking for a new quarterback to lead DeBoer’s offense, Penix stepped in and won the starting job in fall camp.

From Week 1, he’s been superb. UW has kept him upright — he’s only been sacked five times all season — and that has set the table for a resurgent season. Penix closed out the regular season leading all FBS quarterbacks in passing yards. Even after spending conference championship weekend as a spectator, Penix’s 4,354 passing yards still lead all throwers. He enters UW’s bowl game just 105 yards shy of the school record for passing yards and is just the second Husky ever to surpass 4,000 yards in a season.

Penix’s return could also set the table for more good news. With Penix throwing them the ball, Rome Odunze and Jalen McMillan each topped 1,000 yards receiving to become the first UW teammates to do so in the same season in program history. Both are wrapping their third season of college ball and could jump to the NFL if they choose.