Washington Heading To Playoff After Beating Colorado to Win Pac 12
By Ty Duffy
Washington beat Colorado 41-10 to win the Pac 12 title. At 12-1 with a P5 conference title, the Huskies are locks to head to the College Football Playoff. Chris Petersen has a month to prepare. The interesting question will be for which bowl game.
If Clemson wins and last week’s committee rankings hold, Washington would be the No. 4 seed and probably face No. 1 Alabama in the Peach Bowl. But, the committee dropping Ohio State to No. 4 for no conference title could prove quite convenient.
The move would be good for attendance. Washington playing in the Fiesta Bowl would be more convenient. The Fiesta Bowl would not be hosting and toasting Ohio State fans for the second-straight year. It would also ensure the Alabama/Ohio State matchup happens for ratings.
Hopes for Wisconsin, Penn State, and Michigan now rest with a Virginia Tech upset of Clemson. The Tigers have played in six one-score games this season, going 5-1.
Adding insult to injury, this emphatic defeat probably costs Colorado a trip to the Rose Bowl. They entered this game at No. 8. If the Buffaloes fall below No. 11 USC, who beat them during the regular season, that should send the Trojans to Pasadena.
The outside group rooting hardest for Virginia Tech may be the Rose Bowl committee. If the B1G champ gets into the playoff, that would permit the Rose Bowl to take Jim Harbaugh and Michigan to meet USC. Neither program has been to the game this decade.