PAC-12 Football Power Rankings – Final 2020 Edition
4. Washington Huskies (3–1)
Last Game: (12/6) What a disappointment for the Washington Huskies. They were undefeated and cruising towards the Pac-12 Championship game. UW had a home game against home-less Stanford. It seemed like the stars were aligned. Then came the kickoff.
Stanford came at the Huskies like Utah did a week earlier, but with greater and more prolonged success. UW had a good opportunity to score a touchdown on their second possession, driving the ball down to Stanford’s eight-yard line. Despite first-and-goal, the Washington Huskies managed two yards on three plays and had to settle for a field goal.
Boosted by their defensive stand, Stanford only needed nine plays to punch the ball into the endzone again. One more Cardinal field goal and the deficit was 24–3 at the half.
Just like the previous week, the Huskies came out on fire in the second half. They scored their first touchdown on the first possession of the second half. Unlike last week Stanford answered with a TD of their own. From there, Washington went on a 13–0 run (Stanford blocked an extra point for the second straight week).
UW had their chance to tie the game in the fourth quarter after forcing a fumble and running the ball back to Stanford’s 10-yard line with 10 minutes to go. Instead of punching the ball into the endzone for a potential tying score, Washington went backward due to a pair of holding penalties and had to kick a 45-yard field goal.
The Cardinal controlled the ball for the rest of the game. Washington’s defense must have made their stand on the previous series because this one lasted the final 7:47.
Parting Words: It was a better than expected start to Jimmy Lake’s head coaching career. This team and its coach still have lots of growing to do. Depending on who comes back next season, the Huskies may be favorites to defend their Pac-12 North title.
DAWGS❕@e_mold3n, @CadeOtton, @ZTF58, @jaxson_kirkland, @Ulofoshio30, @trent_mcduffie, @LukeWattenberg, @kyler_gordon, @HBainivalu, @D_Morris5 and @360Jr_ have been named to the All-Pac-12 team.
» https://t.co/rkYjKgJZwp#PurpleReign x #BowDown pic.twitter.com/cu0Iub4cm5
— Washington Football (@UW_Football) December 22, 2020
3. Colorado Buffaloes (4–1, 3–1 Pac-12)
Last Game: (12/13) The Colorado Buffaloes’ 2020 season, what could have been. Aside from Utah’s opening drive for a touchdown, the Buffs defense controlled the first half. Their special teams weren’t too bad either. Brenden Rice returned a late second quarter punt for a touchdown to put his team up 14-7.
On the first play of the second half, Sam Noyer connected with Rice on a 61-yard touchdown pass. Colorado went up by 11 points and were on their way to 5–0. Then all the magic the Buffaloes had this season ran out. Utah went on a 28–0 run and Colorado’s undefeated season was over.
Next game: Valero Alamo Bowl – Tuesday, December 29, San Antonio, Texas vs. No. 20 Texas Longhorns. Was Colorado for real this year? Their matchup with UT should provide an answer.
Parting Words: If another team had to fill in for Washington, it should have been the Buffs. They were done a big disservice by the Pac-12 this year.