The final outcome for the Pac-12 is depressing. On Friday night, the Washington Huskies defeated the Oregon Ducks 34-31 and looked like title contenders. Michael Penix had a full roster of receivers and Jalen McMillan also returned, catching nine balls for 131 yards. Huskies running back Dillon Johnson added 151 points on the ground, scoring two points and also scoring a touchdown.
It was a season that would make for a great column, both for the conference and for Washington. It’s like, “Okay, Washington, you don’t have to be embarrassed anymore.” This is UW’s first College Football Playoff berth since joining the conference in 2017, but it’s actually the league’s best Natty shot since Marcus Mariota vs. Cam Newton in 2010.
This is also the Pac-12’s last offense. Let’s see if the Conference of Champions can come out on top and further embarrass the greedy universities that destroyed parts of college athletics. Balance was a hallmark of Karen DeBoer’s team Friday.
A solid running and passing game and defense held the Ducks in check for much of the first half. The team was stopped at the most important moment in the fourth quarter, when Johnson and Penix completed a 12-play, 82-yard touchdown drive that took six minutes to go. The score gave Washington a 10-point lead with less than three minutes remaining.
Bo Nix responded in just two plays, but Oregon couldn’t get an onside kick, couldn’t get a stop, and couldn’t make a final gasp. With this result, Washington secures a spot in the CFP, and the one-loss team will sweat a little.
Dan Lanning wasn’t a complete success for Oregon State. There’s no arguing with anyone who thought the Ducks were the better team going into this matchup. Washington played the best in the conference and won both games.
It takes a tough team to navigate a Power Five schedule without flinching. Washington has many sixth-year players, and the poise that only experience brings has been on display throughout the season. This is UW’s seventh win in a one-score game, leaving whoever draws Penix at CFB with its best and most experienced signal-caller.
I didn’t mention Roman Odunze, but he’s every bit as good as Marvin Harrison Jr. The Huskies are stacked and he knows very well what’s at stake. They are the last hope of a dying council. Great homogenization begins next season, but the Pac-12 has a champion. Champions leaving for the Big Ten.
Either way, the Huskies are still in the Pac-12, so please, Washington, don’t embarrass yourself.