In a game with enormous College Football Playoff implications, the final championship game of the storied Pac-12 conference between No. 3 Washington and No. 5 Oregon was one for the ages.
The Huskies (13–0) outlasted the Ducks (11–2) for a thrilling 34–31 victory. With the win, Washington, who has won 20 straight games dating back to last season, secured a berth in the College Football Playoff, which will be announced on Sunday.
Heisman Trophy hopeful quarterbacks Michael Penix Jr. and Bo Nix exchanged heavyweight blows for sixty minutes at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Friday night.
Penix and the Huskies dominated in the first half, racing out to a 20–3 first half lead. On the strength of two Nix touchdown passes, the Ducks came roaring back, scoring 21 unanswered points to take a 24–20 lead late in the third quarter.
THE WASHINGTON HUSKIES ARE PAC-12 CHAMPIONS 🏆 pic.twitter.com/1kGaa7tsjg
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) December 2, 2023
After facing their first deficit of the game, the Huskies marched down the field and took a 27–24 lead early in the fourth quarter on Dillon Johnson’s second touchdown of the game. The talented junior tailback finished with a game-high 152 rushing yards, giving the Huskies the balance they needed to help limit the amount of time the high-powered Ducks offense spent on the field.
Penix helped the Huskies extend the lead to 34–24 after throwing a touchdown pass to tight end Quentin Moore with only 2:44 remaining. The Ducks were able to close the close the gap to 34–31 on a late 37-yard touchdown by Nix to wideout Traeshon Holden.
However, the Huskies were able to grind out the final 2:14, preventing Nix and the Ducks from ever getting the ball back.
Penix finished the game 27-of-39 for 319 yards and a touchdown. In a losing effort, Nix finished 21-of-34 for 239 yards and three touchdowns, while adding 69 rushing yards on the ground.
