Hoosiers Name Penix as Starting QB for Opener

Written by Sammy Jacobs (@Hoosier_Huddle)

After nearly a month of practice Indiana head football coach Tom Allen gave the news that IU fans have been waiting for all summer, Michael Penix will start at quarterback against Ball State on August 31st.

“Our starting quarterback is going to be Mike Penix for the 2019 season” Allen told reporters at his weekly media session. “I know that's been a question that many of you have been asking about, and it was a very difficult decision in regards to the competition involved with the young men that, you know, Jack Tuttle and Peyton is just -- Peyton is an awesome kid. He's one of the finest young men I've ever been around. And so much respect for him, and that was a hard conversation.”

But I love each one of them, and that doesn't change. None of that has anything to do with it. But those are tough decisions that have to be made by head coaches. And so it wasn't what Peyton didn't do. It was more of what I believe Mike can be.

Penix, a redshirt freshman, played in three games last season before suffering a season ending knee injury on October 20, 2018 in a loss to Penn State. In those three games (Florida International, Ball State and Penn State), Penix completed 21-of-34 passes (61.5%) for 219 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for 45 yard on 7 attempts.

Penix won the job over returning starter redshirt junior Peyton Ramsey and Jack Tuttle, a redshirt freshman who transferred in from Utah prior to spring practice.