By: Jack Culberson
This week in college football featured a huge top-25 matchup in the Pac-12, where #5 Wahsington took on #11 Oregon State. This game had huge implications for the Pac-12 Championship because if either team won, they could have earned a spot in the game. This game lived up to its hype, and in the end Washington defeated Oregon State 22 to 20. Let’s take a closer look at what happened in this game.
The conditions in this game were not great as it was windy and rainy. However, this did not stop Washington on the first drive of the game as Michael Penix found Rome Odunze from 12 yards out to cap off a touchdown drive. On Oregon State’s first drive, the Beavers were able to tie the game at 7 after a Damien Martinez 3 yard touchdown run. Washington went 3 and out on their next drive and they punted. Oregon State tried to punt on their next possession as well, but the bad conditions played a factor and caused a safety. So Washington went up 9 to 7. The first quarter ended in the middle of the Huskies’ next possession.
The second quarter opened as Washington punted. Then, Oregon State punted too. On Washington’s next drive, they were marching down the field and running back Dillon Johnson had a huge run but fumbled. Two plays later, Oregon State fumbled as well. Washington was able to capitalize off the turnover as Michael Penix Jr. rushed for a 5 yard touchdown to make the score 16 to 7. The Beavers were able to score on their next possession as kicker Atticus Sappington made a 36 yard field goal. Before half time, Washington was able to drive 76 yards down the field to score another touchdown with Michael Penix Jr. finding Rome Odunze for a 32 yard touchdown. The Huskies went for two but failed, making the score 22-10. Oregon State got the ball back right before halftime, and they were driving down the field, but Washington’s Jabbar Muhammad intercepted DJ Uiagalelei on fourth down. Washington kneeled the ball to send the game to halftime with the score being 22 to 10.
The second half began with Oregon State receiving the ball, and on their first drive, Jabbar Muhammed intercepted DJ Uiagalelei. Washington was not able to capitalize off the turnover as they missed a field goal. Oregon State took advantage of Washington’s miss on their next drive as they scored a touchdown when Damien Martinez ran it from 5 yards out. The Beavers were now only trailing the Huskies 17 to 22. Washington punted on their next drive. The third quarter came to a close in the middle of Oregon State’s next possession.
At the start of the fourth quarter, the Beavers marched down the field and kicker Atticus Sappington made a 35 yard field goal to make the score 20 to 22. Washington was forced to punt again on their next drive. Oregon State had the ball again and they needed to score, but they turned the ball over on downs. Washington now had the ball and they had a chance to put the game away, and on third and 3, Michael Penix Jr. found Rome Odunze to seal the game. Washington defeated Oregon State 22 to 20.
For the Huskies’, this win gets them closer to the College Football Playoff as they now clinched their spot in the Pac-12 Championship. Washington plays Washington State for their last regular season game, and then either Oregon or Oregon State in the Pac-12 Championship. Washington’s dreams of a College Football Playoff appearance are getting closer each week and it will be interesting to see if they can get in.
With the loss, Oregon State moves to 8-3. The Beavers play Oregon for their final game of the regular season, and they have the potential to make it to the Pac-12 Championship with a win. If the Beavers don’t win against Oregon, they will still get a good bowl game because of the season they are having. It will be interesting to see how the rest of their season plays out.