When the day began, it was a foregone conclusion that Oregon was going to defeat Washington.
But then Ohio State lost.
Then Miami lost.
Then Clemson.
It was going to be one of those days in college football.
Nobody told Oregon or Dan Lanning as the Ducks took care of business by easily handing Washington a 49-21 defeat to secure a perfect 12-0 regular season and remain as the only FBS team remaining to end the season without a loss.
Now thanks to the Ohio State loss to Michigan, it will be Penn State, not the Buckeyes, that will face Oregon in the Big Ten Championship Game in Indianapolis next Saturday (5 pm PST, CBS).
The game started perfectly for the Ducks as they went 71 yards in nine plays and ended on Noah Whittington’s nine-yard run to make it 7-0 Ducks early.
Washington was able to convert field goals from 26 and 41 yards to make the score 7-6 midway through the second quarter.
Understandably, the Ducks were feeling a little urgency and they responded as Dillon Gabriel led the offense down the field in just 83 seconds where Jordan James used his tough running style to find the endzone from 1-yard out and it was 14-6 Oregon.
That lead was extended after a Washington fumble on its first play of the drive on the 19-yard line.
Oregon quickly scored on another James touchdown.
Just for good measure, the Ducks scored one more touchdown in the first half on Gabriel’s 4-yard run and Oregon was threatening to blow the game wide open as the Ducks were up 28-6.
It was three scores in three minutes and that was more than the Huskies could overcome.
“I think we figured out when we were able to start, in rhythm early, you know, and able to start on schedule to start each series, you know, we get positive yards in the first, the first play of each series, every P and 10, it kind of led to successful drive,” said Oregon head coach Dan Lanning after the game.
“So trying to identify moments like that for us. Make sure we’re eliminating penalties. Probably still had more penalties than we want in this game, but for us to be able to stay on schedule to start, I think, you know, it’s really hard to defend us when it’s second and two and second and three. You want to play for the shot, but we can also run it. I think that that really opens up the entire playbook.”
Washington did score a touchdown right before halftime and got the two-point conversion and it was 28-14 Ducks at the halftime break.
It was all Ducks in the second half.
Oregon blitzed Washington quarterback Demond Williams more and contained him in the pocket and didn’t allow many scrambles for rushes like he did in the first half.
Oregon sealed Washington’s fate with a nine-yard touchdown to Tez Johnson that made the 59,603 inside Autzen roar to make it 35-14.
The Ducks extended their lead early in the fourth with a 16-yard touchdown to Terrance Ferguson and it was 42-14. With that score, many started to leave for the exits, including the few Huskies fans who made it down for the trip.
Gabriel was 16-of-23 passing for 209 yards and two touchdowns.
James had 15 carries for 99 yards and a pair of scores himself. Tez Johnson made his return from a shoulder injury and managed three catches for 36 yards and a touchdown.
“I mean, Tez, the minute he was down, he was ready to be back out there,” Lanning said.
“He would have been out there sooner, if we would have let him. I was glad that he was able to get back out there and help his team. You know, we’ve got unbelievable trainers here that have helped him get back, but glad that he was able to make an impact, as well as some other guys like Jordan and those guys that got out there.”
Oregon played their best game in several weeks and remains fairly healthy considering it’s Week 14 of the college football season.
The Ducks are peeking at the perfect time.
Perfect, just like their record.
( POSTGAME) DILLON GABRIEL MEETS THE MEDIA AFTER THE GAME
** Photos Courtesy of Oregon Football **