Washington outlasts Oregon in thriller for final Pac-12 title, CFP berth
No. 3 Washington defeated No. 5 Oregon 34-31 on Friday to claim the 2023 Pac-12 championship. The win is expected to ensure a spot in the College Football Playoff, which will be announced Sunday. The Huskies (13-0) have now beaten the Ducks (11-2) twice after winning the earlier matchup 36-33 on Oct. 14 in Seattle.
Advertisement
Leading 27-24 midway through the fourth quarter, Washington QB and Heisman hopeful Michael Penix Jr. orchestrated a 12-play, 82-yard drive that culminated in a 2-yard touchdown pass to Quentin Moore that put the game out of reach. Penix finished 27-of-39 for 319 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
Oregon’s potential postseason opponent is yet to be determined. All eyes now turn to Saturday’s matchups of No. 1 Georgia versus No. 8 Alabama in the SEC championship and No. 2 Michigan versus No. 18 Iowa in the Big Ten championship.
The party is just beginning for @UW_Football 🎉 pic.twitter.com/jm6hB1UA92
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) December 2, 2023
Washington dominated much of the first half and led 20-3 midway through the second quarter thanks to two field goals by Grady Gross and touchdowns by running back Dillon Johnson and receiver Germie Bernard. Oregon QB Bo Nix, however, found Terrance Ferguson in the end zone with nine seconds remaining to cut the deficit to 10 points heading into halftime.
Oregon looked much sharper to open the third quarter. Nix led a 14-play drive that ended in another Ferguson touchdown. Following a fourth-down stop later in the third, Oregon took a 24-20 lead on Jordan James’ 6-yard run. The Ducks, however, gave up 10 straight points in the fourth.
Nix’s 63-yard touchdown pass to Traeshon Holden with 2:14 gave hope to the Oregon fans but it was too late to pull off the comeback.
Oregon couldn’t stop Washington’s offense
Oregon had no answer for any of the three standout Washington receivers or running back in Johnson, who iced the 34-31 win on the final third-down play with 18 of his 152 yards. Penix was 27-of-39 for 319 yards, with Jalen McMillan, Rome Odunze and Ja’Lynn Polk combining for 22 catches for 290 yards. Polk had a circus catch to set up the scoring drive that put the Huskies up 34-24 with 2:44 left but Nix quickly led the Ducks on a drive to make things interesting until the final seconds. — Tafur
Required reading
(Photo: Brian Rothmuller / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ncG1vNJzZmismJqutbTLnquim16YvK57lGpnbnFoZXxzfJFsZmpqX2V%2BcMPArJ%2BippepvK95zqucoKeeYr2ir4xqaWabmJa6sbXOp6qhoaBiv6a%2F1KWraA%3D%3D