Washington rolls to Pac-12 crown; 13-0 Western Michigan wins MAC
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — 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 eighth-ranked Colorado in the Pac-12 championship game Friday night.
The Huskies (12-1) 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 with a performance likely to keep the Huskies in the top four when the College Football Playoff bids are handed out Sunday.
It was a rough day for the Buffaloes (10-3) and Liufau, who was knocked out of the game after injuring his right leg on a sack on Colorado’s 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 the Buffaloes never could recover. Even a circus kick return in the third quarter couldn’t help thems. Anthony Julmisse returned a kick to near midfield and fumbled. Phillip Lindsay scooped up and ran down to the 2, but Colorado was held to a field goal.
WESTERN MICHIGAN 29 OHIO 23
Robert Spillane intercepted a pass with 51 seconds remaining as the 17th-ranked Broncos remained undefeated with a victory over the Bobcats at Detroit to win their first Mid-American Conference title since 1988.
Western Michigan (130) led 23-7 at halftime, but Ohio rallied and had the ball in Broncos territory in the final minute when Spillane intercepted Greg Windham’s pass over the middle. Spillane immediately took a knee at his 30 and then was mobbed by his teammates as a Ford Field crowd full of Western Michigan Broncos fans roared.
Ohio (9-4) never led and didn’t do much on offense until the final quarter, but the Bobcats still came achingly close to their first MAC crown since 1968.
Instead, Western Michigan 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. Western Michigan is trying to earn the Group of Five bid to a New Year’s Six bowl.
The Broncos’ Michigan’s Corey Davis had eight catches for 144 yards, including a 70-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter, and Butch Hampton kicked five field goals.