Washington’s victorious Pac-12 title win over Oregon seals CFP bid

LAS VEGAS — Washington completed an extraordinary season with a 34-31 victory over Oregon in the final Pac-12 football game before the impending conference realignment. With this win, the No. 3 Huskies became the first Pac-12 team to go 13-0 before the bowl season, securing their place in the College Football Playoff.

“It is sad to see it happen and that be the last football game there,” Washington coach Kalen DeBoer said. “But I think the other part is just understanding how strong the conference was this year.”

The Huskies must await the selection committee’s decision to include them in the four-team field on Sunday, as is only a formality. They are now set to play in either the Rose Bowl or the Sugar Bowl with their opponent to be decided soon.

Washington’s victory was even more remarkable given the 9.5-point underdog status they had despite a 19-game winning streak. “I think it was 10-point underdog, which is absolutely insane,” Washington running back Dillon Johnson said. “We definitely took that personal, and we knew coming into the game that we were going to win this game, and we’ve been preaching it all this week.”

At halftime, the Huskies saw a 20-3 lead slip as the Ducks fought back, but Washington managed to regain control with back-to-back long touchdown drives.

Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. was named the game’s most valuable player after an exceptional performance, while running back Dillon Johnson also had a standout game, rushing for 152 yards and scoring two touchdowns.

After the game, Penix’s teammates showed their support for his Heisman Trophy aspirations by chanting, “Heisman, Heisman, Heisman,” further adding to the memorable evening.

It was truly an incredible display of talent and resilience as Washington showcased their strength against Oregon. Now, all eyes will be on their upcoming bowl game, as they continue to make history in the world of college football.