It was the game of the year in College Football. A battle in the Pac-12 between bitter rivals as the Washington Huskies took on the Oregon Ducks. It was the first time in the team’s history they were meeting as both teams were unbeaten and ranked inside the Top 10 of the AP Poll.
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Washington Survives!!
Game of the Year!! #washington #huskies #OregonDucks #cfb #cfbplayoff #pac12 @FP_Coverage @FullPressNFL @RodPedersenShow @RawMikeRichards @ZigSportsVoice @cbfowler @KirkHerbstreit pic.twitter.com/wV5yEuzTDY
— Jim Biringer (@JimBiringer) October 14, 2023
“That was an amazing football game. If there’s one that I’ve been a part of that was bigger and better, I can’t think of it right now,” Washington coach Kalen DeBoer said after the game.
And boy was he right. Entering the week, you knew this had the potential for the game of the year. Boy did this game live up to the hype and then some. From the get-go, you knew this was going to be a special game. And when Michael Penix Jr. and Bo Nix were the talk of the town, it came down to special teams.
With four seconds left on the clock and Oregon in Husky territory, the Ducks were looking for the tying field goal to send the game to overtime. The Ducks lined for a 43-yard field goal and Cameron Lewis had already made one earlier in the game. However, this time he just pulled it to the left as the Huskies won 36-33 as the fans stormed the field.
While the headlines will read Michael Penix Jr led his team to victory connecting with Rome Odunze for the second time to take the lead with 1:38 left on the clock, the Huskies defense got the crucial stop on fourth down at the Oregon 47.
Even though the Huskies’ defense gave up some big plays to Oregon in the fourth quarter, they were able to come up with three crucial fourth-down stops. And boy did they need every single one of those stops. All game long Oregon head coach Dan Lanning was living with being aggressive and trying to win the game.
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However, he left six points on the board by not taking field goals when he was inside Husky territory. One of which was at the goal line to end the first half. Think about it for a minute one of those field goals and this game goes to overtime or maybe the Ducks win by three.
However, these were crucial mistakes. You take points on the road. Especially when Lanning’s defense stopped Michael Penix Jr and that Washington Huskies offense on back-to-back drives. That led to a Ducks touchdown pass by Nix to Tez Johnson to cut the lead to three 29-26 in the third quarter.
Oregon took the lead 33-29 after the Ducks defense stopped Washington forcing a punt. Bo Nix took shots down the field including one to Troy Franklin for a 49-yard gain. This led to Jordan James go-ahead touchdown. It was the first lead for the Ducks since the first quarter.
Look if Lanning and the Ducks convert on fourth down at the Washington 47 then the game is over. However, that aggressive play to pass the ball cost the Ducks this game. Nix’s pass to Tez Johnson was incomplete. The turnover on downs led to the Huskies taking the lead once and for all.
And Lanning owned it after the game too.
“This game’s 100 percent on me,” Lanning said after the game. “I don’t think you guys have to look anywhere else but me.”
Michael Penix Jr had a big day. He threw for another 302 yards and 4TDs. Another Heisman-worthy performance. But it was in the fourth quarter when Penix Jr. had his Heisman moment. Oregon was sending the blitz and he was taking shots standing in the pocket. After his TD pass in the third quarter, Penix did not look like himself.
His throws were off. Penix was taking shot after shot after shot. Until the final drive when he went to Ja’Lynn Polk to set up the Huskies in the red zone. On the next play, he went to Odunze for the game-winning score.
Now the Huskies had a chance to take the lead earlier in the game. Dillion Johnson, who had a great game with 100 yards rushing and a score, was stopped on the half-yard line. However, the Washington Huskies were stopped on downs. If the Huskies had lost this game, everyone would have pointed to the play call on 2nd down to go the Wildcat. Washington lost yards and that play and was stopped on fourth down.
Again, just imagine if they went for a field goal there. And a chance to get the ball back later on. Again clock management and playcalling were the story of this game.
These two teams can meet in the Pac-12 Title Game in Las Vegas later on in the year. The first game was an instant classic as they needed the full 60 minutes to decide this one. Just imagine what the rematch will be like.
The matchup between the Washington Huskies and Oregon Ducks was the final regular season meeting inside the Pac-12 before the teams go to the Big Ten next season.
Washington vs Oregon is the reason why you love college football.