Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Huskies hunt playoff berth after Pac-12 win
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Washington’s opportunistic defense and dominant running game most likely ended any debate about whether the Huskies’ weak nonconference schedule would keep them out of the College Football Playoff.
Taylor Rapp returned one of his two interceptions for a touchdown and Myles Gaskin ran for 159 yards to help No. 4 Washington strengthen its case for a playoff berth with a 41-10 victory over No. 9 Colorado in the Pac-12 championship game Friday night.
“We think we have a heck of a team and we think we belong in there,” coach Chris Petersen said. “I think they’ll do what they should do, which is the right thing. These guys have done everything they’re supposed to do.”
With the Huskies (12-1, No. 4 CFP) only narrowly ahead of two-loss Michigan in the latest playoff rankings, there were some questions about whether they could be passed by the Wolverines or even the eventual Big Ten champion for the final playoff spot because of a nonconference schedule of Rutgers, Idaho and Portland State.
But the Huskies dominated the Buffaloes (10-3, No. 8 CFP) much more thoroughly than Michigan did in September in the most convincing closing argument possible. Now they need to just wait for the final verdict to come in today before they begin preparations for the playoff.
“That’s up to them,” quarterback Jake Browning said. “I’m happy with being Pac 12 champs right now. Whatever they decide, they decide. We’ve created a pretty good situation for ourselves. Worst comes to worst, we’re playing in the Rose Bowl. That’s pretty nice.”
The Huskies broke open a close game when Rapp intercepted Sefo Liufau’s passes on the first two drives of the second half for a touchdown and to set up a field goal that made it 24-7.
Washington rolled from there to its first conference title since 2000.
It was a rough day for Liufau, who was knocked out of the game after twisting his right ankle on a sack on the Buffaloes’ first drive of the game. He returned to start the second half and threw three interceptions, including one on the first play from scrimmage that Rapp returned 35 yards for a score.
Liufau threw another interception on the ensuing drive, and Colorado could never recover.
No. 13 WMU 29, Ohio 23
DETROIT — Robert Spillane intercepted a pass with 51 seconds remaining, and No. 13 Western Michigan remained undefeated, holding off Ohio 29-23 on Friday night to win its first Mid-American Conference title since 1988.
The Broncos (13-0, No. 17 CFP) led 23-7 at halftime, but Ohio rallied and had the ball in WMU territory in the final minute when Spillane intercepted Greg Windham’s pass over the middle. Spillane immediately took a knee at his own 30, then was mobbed by his teammates as a Ford Field crowd full of Broncos fans roared.
Ohio (8-5) never led and didn’t do much on offense until the final quarter, but the Bobcats still came achingly close to their first MAC championship since 1968.
Instead, WMU became the first undefeated team to win the MAC title game since Marshall in 1999. The question is whether the Broncos have done enough to make it to the Cotton Bowl. WMU is trying to earn the Group of Five bid to a New Year’s Six bowl.
“We’ve done all we can do,” quarterback Zach Terrell said.
Western Michigan’s Corey Davis had eight catches for 144 yards, including a 70-yard touchdown reception in the second. The crowd of 45,615 was a MAC title record.