The Washington Huskies have had an up and down season since opening the year ranked in the top 10 for a second straight year, yet somehow, it has resulted with them in the Pac-12 Championship game. The 16th-ranked Huskies got there on Friday night when they took down No. 8 Washington State on the road with a 28-15 victory. Myles Gaskin went off in the snow by running for 170 yards and three touchdowns on 27 carries, leading the Huskies to their second consecutive Pac-12 North Division Championship. Washington pulled away early in the fourth quarter, when Gaskin broke free for an 80-yard touchdown run that was followed by a two-point conversion to pull away for good.
Gaskin's big game comes just one year after he ran for 192 yards and four touchdowns against the Cougars, who have fallen to the Huskies in four straight seasons. The loss for Washington State knocks the Pac-12 Conference out of the College Football Playoff conversation, as they were the final hope of getting in to the final four. Although, two losses in conference play, with or without a conference championship, will not be enough to get in.
It was a rare down performance for Heisman hopeful quarterback Gardner Minshew of the Cougars, as he threw just 16-of-35 for 152 yards without finding the end zone. James Williams ran in for two touchdowns in the loss for Washington State, although, it was a close contest between the two for the first time in a while. Friday night was the first time since the 2008 matchup that the game was within five points entering the fourth quarter.
The senior Gaskin's big day gives him 10 career rushing touchdowns against Washington State, as he also became the first Pac-12 running back to surpass 1,000 yards in all four seasons. Jake Browning did not do much for the Huskies, but he did not need to, as the quarterback threw for 207 yards and had an interception and a fumble on the day. That did not stop him from improving to 4-0 as the Huskies starting quarterback against their in-state rivals.
Washington will go up against the Utah Utes for the Pac 12 Championship next week, with the winner of that game entering the Rose Bowl.
Gaskin's big game comes just one year after he ran for 192 yards and four touchdowns against the Cougars, who have fallen to the Huskies in four straight seasons. The loss for Washington State knocks the Pac-12 Conference out of the College Football Playoff conversation, as they were the final hope of getting in to the final four. Although, two losses in conference play, with or without a conference championship, will not be enough to get in.
It was a rare down performance for Heisman hopeful quarterback Gardner Minshew of the Cougars, as he threw just 16-of-35 for 152 yards without finding the end zone. James Williams ran in for two touchdowns in the loss for Washington State, although, it was a close contest between the two for the first time in a while. Friday night was the first time since the 2008 matchup that the game was within five points entering the fourth quarter.
The senior Gaskin's big day gives him 10 career rushing touchdowns against Washington State, as he also became the first Pac-12 running back to surpass 1,000 yards in all four seasons. Jake Browning did not do much for the Huskies, but he did not need to, as the quarterback threw for 207 yards and had an interception and a fumble on the day. That did not stop him from improving to 4-0 as the Huskies starting quarterback against their in-state rivals.
Washington will go up against the Utah Utes for the Pac 12 Championship next week, with the winner of that game entering the Rose Bowl.
