After a 35-28 victory over a Utah squad that scored zero points in the second half, head coach Kalen DeBoer knows he has a special group that heads to Corvallis this Saturday to become the first team in program history since winning the National Championship to begin a season 11-0. 

“We’ve found ways to finish games and there are always areas where we could make it a little easier on ourselves probably,” DeBoer said. “But I think every moment is a learning moment and a growth moment, we talk about those and I can see the corrections being made.”

The Washington Huskies are on the verge of doing something they haven’t done since 2016, a College Football Playoff appearance. They are two wins away from a perfect regular season with a daunting Pac-12 Championship coming up on December 1st. 

“We put ourselves in a spot now, I mean every game does matter, but it really has a heightened level of importance,” DeBoer said. “We’re excited about that, I think the guys really play well when the lights are bright.”

With this season being among the most historic in Husky history, especially considering the departure of the PAC-12 conference at the conclusion of the year, DeBoer made sure to emphasize to his players how special being at this moment truly is.

“I think the guys know that each win just means that the next one we gotta get ready for on another level,” DeBoer said. “I just showed them how much they’re going to remember this [season] 10, 20, 30 years down the road as they talk about it with the other alumni who were here at this time.”

The defense clutched up when it needed to all season, and the Huskies can rely on that to be the case nearing the end of the year.

“We’ve done a good job coming out of the locker room in the first quarter and even the third quarter,” DeBoer said. “We have been really good in the fourth quarter, one touchdown (allowed) in the last four games. Our guys are resilient, got back in the locker room and regrouped.”

With multiple coaches getting fired from prestigious football programs this week, DeBoer’s name was brought up and was linked to some of those potential jobs. After DeBoer signed a contract during the season last year, he made sure to emphasize where he stands on the topic.

“My focus is 100% on us playing ball right now,”  DeBoer said. “When it comes to the contract, I’ll make sure it’s known that Troy (Dannen, UW’s Athletic Director) has done a great job of approaching me and working together to make sure the continuity exists here at UW, that doesn’t just happen overnight but those efforts are certainly being made and im appreciative of that.”

Looking ahead to the Oregon State matchup in Corvallis, DeBoer discussed his keys to success for the offense. 

“I think finding that rhythm. I feel like the last two weeks we’ve gotten back on track really consistently,” DeBoer said. “The completion percentage wasn’t as high, but a lot of balls downfield and a lot of explosive plays. What I really liked this week was that when they brought pressure, we made them pay.”

“We just continue what we do.”

Utah’s defense poses lots of similarities to Oregon State, and keeping the offense consistent as it has been the last two weeks will be the spark that the Huskies need to overcome a very physical and talented defense from the Beavers.

“Oregon State still has an opportunity if they win out to get in [to the Pac12 Championship], DeBoer said. “Knowing that, they’re gonna bring everything they got. They’re playing at home, they’ve got momentum. It’s about realizing we are going to be getting their best shot, just like with everyone else.”

With every game becoming more important than the next, instead of looking ahead to the championship, this team focuses on what it is that makes them champions.

“I think more than anything, we focus on what champions look like and what champions do,” DeBoer said. “And that’s not something that just comes up now, that’s something that you know, you watch documentaries and you talk about the great coaches, the great performances, the great teams. We look at those traits that those teams have and we discuss what those are for us.”

This team isn’t about the future, it’s about the next game in front of them and maintaining that 1-0 mentality.

“We are completely just focused on Oregon State,” DeBoer said. “We understand how that next game sets us up for the opportunity for [A Championship] and that’s certainly a goal of ours to be in the championship, but it’s more about being a championship-level team and continuing to have those traits that exist within those teams.”

Towards the end of the press conference, DeBoer was asked if he sees himself at Washington for the long haul.

“Yeah, I mean this is a great place. My family loves it here,” DeBoer said. “There’s just a lot of things I love about this place, this is a championship-level football program. Troy is trying to do everything he can to help myself and the staff continue this journey that we’re on.”

DeBoer knows he has a championship-caliber team, and he’s ready to bring them into Corvallis on Saturday with a chance to be undefeated heading into the final rivalry week with the Apple Cup.