Washington has clinched the first berth in this year’s College Football Playoff.
The third-ranked Huskies punched their ticket to the four-team field on Friday night with a 34-31 win over Oregon in the final Pac-12 Championship Game, improving their record to 13-0 this season with their second win over the Ducks, who were ranked fifth in the penultimate College Football Playoff rankings.
Heisman contender Michael Penix Jr. threw for 319 yards and a touchdown, Huskies running back Dillon Johnson rushed for 152 yards and two touchdowns and Washington receivers Jalen McMillan and Rome Odunze both topped 100 yards to lead Washington to its first conference championship since 2018.
With the victory, the Huskies are set to make their second-ever appearance in the College Football Playoff. Washington previously made the CFP in 2016, falling to Alabama in the semifinals.
Washington’s victory is a boost for Ohio State’s College Football Playoff hopes, as it eliminates the possibility of Pac-12 getting two teams in the CFP. That said, Ohio State will still need Oklahoma State to beat Texas in the Big 12 Championship Game, Georgia to beat Alabama in the SEC Championship Game and Louisville to beat Florida State in the ACC Championship Game on Saturday to pave a path for the Buckeyes to earn the fourth seed in this year’s playoff.
