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NEW ORLEANS — Maybe it was because of Arizona State (15-7). Or Stanford (42-33). Or Southern California (52-42), Oregon State (22-20) or Washington State (24-21).
Maybe it was because Washington was the champions of a disintegrating league, the Pac-12, which is set to exist in any form for just one more game before becoming a college football footnote.
Not even those two wins against Oregon were enough to change the narrative. Overshadowed by three of the biggest brands in college sports, no Power Five team had ever reached the College Football Playoff unbeaten and been more of an afterthought in the championship breakdown than the Huskies.
For weeks — months, actually — the Huskies have been on a quest for the same respect given to fellow playoff members Michigan, Alabama and Texas, not to mention playoff near-misses Georgia and Ohio State, even the Ducks.
After weathering a frantic fourth quarter to beat the Longhorns 37-31 in the Sugar Bowl, to say the Huskies are worthy of a little coast-to-coast respect would be an understatement.
In fact, if for no other reason than quarterback Michael Penix Jr., the Huskies may have what it takes to beat Michigan and capture the first unshared national championship in program history.
Penix carried his superb regular season into January with a near-perfect game — and the Huskies needed every ounce of his brilliance to fend off the Longhorns’ late run and create the fourth unbeaten-only championship game in playoff history.
Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (9) avoids the pressure of Texas defensive end Ethan Burke (91) during their College Football Playoff semifinal game at the 2024 Sugar Bowl.
His first pass at the Sugar Bowl was a 77-yard completion to Ja’Lynn Polk so beautiful it should’ve come wrapped in a sash and tiara. He threw enough dimes to open a bank…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/washington-respect-tour-one-more-065336046.html
Author : USA TODAY Sports
Publish date : 2024-01-02 06:53:36
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