12/01/23 10:56:00
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12/01 22:54 CST No. 3 Washington rallies to beat No. 5 Oregon 34-31 and secure
playoff spot
No. 3 Washington rallies to beat No. 5 Oregon 34-31 and secure playoff spot
By MARK ANDERSON
AP Sports Writer
LAS VEGAS (AP) --- Michael Penix Jr. passed for 319 yards and a touchdown,
Dillon Johnson ran for 152 yards and two TDs and No. 3 Washington wrapped up a
spot in the College Football Playoff, beating No. 5 Oregon 34-31 on Friday
night in the Pac-12 Championship.
The game was likely the final Pac-12 Championship given 10 of the 12 teams will
be playing in different conferences next season. Only Oregon State and
Washington State will remain as they try to find a way to keep the
tradition-rich conference together in some form.
Washington (13-0) was the last Pac-12 team to make the CFP --- in the 2016
season.
The Huskies, who were 9 1/2-point underdogs, scored two touchdowns in the
fourth quarter to take a 34-24 lead. Oregon (11-2) scored a late touchdown for
the final score, but failed to recover the onside kick, ending the Ducks'
six-game winning streak.
Two Washington receivers had more than 100 yards --- Jalen McMillan (nine
receptions for 131 yards) and Biletnikoff finalist Rome Odunze (eight for 102)
who was returning to his hometown.
Oregon's Bo Nix, the favorite entering the game to win the Heisman Trophy
according to FanDuel Sportsbook, passed for 239 yards and three touchdowns and
rushed for 69 yards.
If it was indeed the final title game for the conference, it was quite a way to
go as Oregon and Washington again played a high-scoring game with big plays
throughout. The Huskies won their regular-season meeting 36-33 in Seattle.
Washington took a 20-3 lead before the Ducks scored a touchdown with nine
seconds left to get to within 10 points.
That score got Oregon going, converting two fourth downs on the opening drive
of the second, including a 2-yard touchdown from Nix to tight end Terrance
Ferguson to get within three points. The Ducks took the lead at 24-20 with 1:51
left in the third quarter on Jordan James' 6-yard TD run.
The lead didn't last long as Washington scored on its next drive to take the
lead for good.
This is the second time both teams have been ranked in the top 10 when they
have played each other. The other time was the first meeting this season.
Washington improved to 3-0 in the Pac-12 Championship; Oregon is 4-2.
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