The Husky Haul
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Must Washington Football run the table to get playoff bid?

By Bret Stuter

LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 08: Washington Huskies mascot Harry the Husky looks on during the team's first-round game of the Pac-12 Basketball Tournament against the USC Trojans at T-Mobile Arena on March 8, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. USC won 78-73. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - MARCH 08: Washington Huskies mascot Harry the Husky looks on during the team's first-round game of the Pac-12 Basketball Tournament against the USC Trojans at T-Mobile Arena on March 8, 2017 in Las Vegas, Nevada. USC won 78-73. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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Playing on the west coast creates challenges. Different time zones means less national recognition. The current  ranking could mean that the Washington Football team must run the table for an NCAA college playoff bid

The Washington Football team ended the season 11-1, won the Pac-12 championship last season, and carried that momentum into the NCAA playoffs. There, the team ran into the Alabama Crimson Tide, and the season ended. This year, the Huskies have climbed to 5-0. But they are stuck outside of the top four in the national rankings.

And there’s the rub. With undefeated teams including Alabama, Clemson, Oklahoma (which beat Ohio State on the road), Penn State, and now Georgia ahead in the rankings, the road for Washington (and any Pac-12 team going forward) is much steeper.

Must Washington root against undefeated teams?

Now, that is not to say that Washington is shut out of the national playoff system already.  We know that as the season progresses, there are the upsets that nobody saw coming.  There are  collegiate rivalries as well.

But those may backfire. Penn State faces Michigan on October 21. Should they lose that contest, the Michigan Wolverines will likely catapult to their spot in the rankings. So  that will not aid the Washington Huskies to get any close to the playoffs.

The Washington State victory over USC has complicated that path to post-season.  Now, the easier track to post season is to have Washington State run the table, Washington run the table, and the winner take all. Keep in mind that is the best case scenario if Washington wins out.  The challenge with that scenario? Washington State must now play five of the next seven games on the road.  They knocked off USC, but they are themselves vulnerable.

Washington can only control what Washington can control

The Washington Huskies cannot get caught up in the politics of east coast/west coast nor of the records of other teams. Right now, Washington will play Utah (20) and Washington State (11) through the course of the regular season. The team will then play for the Pac-12 championship.  While Utah currently tops the Southern Conference, you cannot rule out USC in that title game either.  But does defeating a one loss team springboard the Huskies into the playoffs?

In the end, the outcome of the season is beyond what the Huskies can own.  Right now, the focus is on the California Golden Bears.  That team is the next obstacle.

Next: Pac-12 undefeateds: Utah, Washington State, and Washington football teams

This is a very good Washington Football team. Unfortunately, Pac-12 teams fight an uphill battle to gain national notoriety. With the loss by USC to Washington State, many national sportswriters now turn their attentions to the SEC and other eastern oriented conferences. All Washington can do is continue to win, and hope that fates will smile on them once more.

This team is very good offensively, and a top national defense. But unless some teams stumble to close out the season, this could be very frustrating. Historically, less than four major conferences boast a team with a perfect record. As of today, that number is 14.  If nothing else, that should make it a very interesting season the rest of the way.

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