Washington Huskies: 4 plays that could have put UW in a New Year’s 6 Bowl
The Washington Huskies weren’t directly involved in these plays but they affected where UW wound up.
Play 3 – Whittingham goes for two
Utah earned their way into the Rose Bowl. They beat USC in the Pac-12 Championship Game last week, which punched the Utes ticket to Pasadena. But it was their first game against the Trojans that put Utah in a position to play for the Pac-12 title.
The Utes never led in this game. Down 42-35 with 48 seconds left in the game, Utah had the ball 4th and goal on the 1. QB Cameron Rising followed his blockers into the endzone to pull within one point at 42-41.
Utah could have kicked the extra point and tried to win in overtime. Instead, coach Kyle Whittingham went for the win. With no receivers open, Rising ran it in himself to put the Utes ahead 43-42. That play saved their season and broke Southern Cal’s six-game win streak.
Without that “W,” Utah wouldn’t have tied the Huskies and Oregon for second place. Since UW beat Oregon, the Huskies would have played in Las Vegas for a shot at the Rose Bowl.
Max Duggan picked off in end zone
Despite not playing on Championship Weekend, the Washington Huskies still had a good chance to play in a New Year’s-6 bowl. That is until TCU blew their undefeated season in the Big 12 Championship Game.
Trailing 21-17 in the 3rd quarter, TCU had the ball 3rd and 7 at the Kansas State 8 yard line. Horned Frogs QB Max Duggan made a horrible throw under pressure that KSU picked off in the end zone.
On the Wildcats’ sixth play after the touchback, Duece Vaughn broke a 44 yard touchdown run. That was a 10 to 14 point swing in a game that was decided in overtime.
Even with the loss, TCU stayed in the College Football Playoffs. But Kansas State’s win made them the Big 12 Champions and catapulted the Wildcats into the Sugar Bowl against Alabama.