13-0.

For the first time in program history the Washington Huskies are 13-0 are are on the cusp of the College Football Playoffs for the second time. They battled with the Oregon Ducks, getting out to an early lead and held them off for the rest of the game. The fourth quarter was a back and forth battle of titans, but the Huskies rushing attack powered them to a 34-31 victory and a Pac-12 Championship.

Here’s what we learned from the win that sends the Huskies to the playoffs:

They’re Back: For the first time in what seems like forever the Huskies got their top-5 skill players involved in the game. It was a finally healthy Jalen McMillan that reminded us just how different this team is when he’s on the field. J-Mac, as he’s referred to by his teammates, had 131 yard and while he didn’t catch a touchdown he had multiple catches instrumental into getting the Huskies in to Dillon Johnson range.

Speaking of, Dillon Johnson showed up. The Huskies tailback rushed for 153 yards including the 9 yards on third down to send the Huskies to  Pasadena. Johnson was the go to guy in the red zone as he rushed for two touchdowns. Johnson also got credited with a TD pass as his dump of the utility receiver Germie Bernard found the end zone. Fellow receiver Rome Odunze was the Huskies third 100 yard gainer on the night. This game shows how dangerous this offense is. When all the weapons are available there is genuinely no stopping the Huskies.

Big Boys Win Big Games: There are some bad boys on this Huskies offensive and defensive fronts. The Oregon front that wreaked havoc all season got run over by the big offensive lineman, while Husky QB Michael Penix was given all the time in the world.

The more we watch the more obvious it becomes that the key to this team is the OL. When blocks are being made, and UW running back Dillon Johnson is getting downhill there is no defense who can stop them. I’d honestly say they could give Michigan or Georgia a day right now. The penalties were cleaned up, and the Huskies looked like the far more physical team.

This is what Husky football looks like. There’s no doubt the passing is fun. But when they are running the ball, there is no stopping this team.

Playmakers: Defensive play-makers that is. While 31 points is not ideal, and there were definitely some plays they would want back the defense stepped up when they were needed. They came out of thew gate on fire and shut the Ducks out in the first quarter, and had it not been for a questionable pass interference call probably would have kept it to six in the whole first half.

The Ducks came out with some new life in the second half and cut through the Huskies for most of the third quarter. They lived on big plays, like we saw on the 63 yard score in the final minutes. The Huskies secondary looked open at points, but when they were needed plays were made. Husky position player, Mishael Powell picked off Oregon QB Bo Nix to get the ball back after Oregon looked to be gaining momentum.

Out-schemed: Washington offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb deserves a statue outside Husky stadium. He has made one of the nations best defenses look down right bad twice this year. The Huskies dominated the Ducks offensively, and the play calling had a lot to do.

The offense did a great job forcing the Ducks defense to the outside of the field allowing the running game to excel with the lack of bodies on the inside. In classic Grubb fashion Dillon Johnson “threw” for a TD early in the game. With the game on the line, on third and goal, the Huskies lined up to stuff it up the middle, but instead they found his tight end Quentin Moore, getting free to the pylon for not his first TD of the year, and the game winner.

Heisman: According to experts, the Heisman trophy was down to LSU QB Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix. But now Michael Penix has inserted himself right back in that race.

Penix stared the favorite Nix right in the eyes and had him chasing all night long. Oregon led for just minutes as Penix threw for 319 yards and a touchdown. The Huskies QB looked like himself again, dropping dimes to every dimension of the field as he burnt a highly rated Ducks secondary. In the fourth quarter Penix was locked in.

The Huskies scored a touchdown on all but one drive, the drive they took a knee on. Bo Nix and the Ducks were forced to punt with a the opportunity to go in front late in the game. Penix has passed Nix, now it’s him versus Jayden Daniels.