The finality of the Pac-12 is depressing. The Washington Huskies beat the Oregon Ducks, 34-31, Friday night, and looked like title contenders. Michael Penix had his full range of receivers, with Jalen McMillan returning to catch nine balls for 131 yards. Husky running back Dillon Johnson added 151 on the ground for two scores and also threw for a touchdown.
It was the kind of season for the conference, and for Washington, that would make for an excellent column. Something like: “Okay, Washington, don’t embarrass yourself. » This is the conference’s first College Football Playoff berth since UW arrived in 2017, but it’s truly the league’s best shot since Marcus Mariota vs. Cam Newton in 2010.
It’s also the Pac-12’s last shot. Let’s see if the Conference of Champions can prevail and further shame the greedy universities for destroying a part of college athletics. The defining trait of Kalen DeBoer’s team Friday was balance.
Solid running and passing game, and the defense kept the Ducks in check for much of the first half. They got a stop when it mattered most in the fourth quarter, which allowed Johnson and Penix to launch a 12-play, 82-yard touchdown drive that was six minutes late. The score gave Washington a 10 lead with less than three minutes remaining.
It only took two plays for Bo Nix to respond, but Oregon couldn’t get the onside kick, or a stop, going for one last gasp. The result guarantees Washington a spot in the CFP and makes one-loss teams a little sweatier.
Dan Lanning didn’t even totally ruin the situation for Oregon. Anyone who thought the Ducks were the better team before the game has no argument. Washington played the best the conference has to offer and won both times.
It takes a tough team to get through a Power Five schedule without faltering. Washington is loaded with six-year players, and the composure that only comes with experience has been on display all season. It was UW’s seventh win in one-score games, and whoever lures Penix to the CFB will get the best and most experienced signal-caller remaining.
I didn’t mention Rome Odunze, who is just as good as Marvin Harrison Jr. The Huskies are stacked and they know better what’s at stake. They are the last hope of a dying conference. Next season, the great homogenization begins, but the Pac-12 has its champion, the one who leaves for the Big Ten.
Regardless, the Huskies are still in the Pac-12, so please, Washington, don’t embarrass yourself.
