Washington football fans were treated to one of the best games of the year, and one of the best quarterback battles ever seen, and in the end, it was the Huskies standing in triumph over arch-rival Oregon.
The scene in Seattle had been lit since 5:00 a.m. when ESPN College GameDay began rolling cameras and the crowd showed up in massive numbers to support their Washington Huskies. There was a hint of premonition for this game when UW student Greyson Wilhelm split the uprights with a field goal to win a $30,000 prize
From that point on, it was on. Washington fans were ready for arguably one of the biggest regular-season games ever played at Husky Stadium.
Oregon vs. Washington, a border war in the Pacific Northwest. Huskies and Ducks, with a ton at stake. Both in the Top 10 for the first time. Both wanting to stay there.
Washington football hadn’t had this much on the line in a long time
It was billed as a battle to control the Pac-12, as well as a possible spot in the College Football Playoff down the road. Two Heisman contender quarterbacks, two high-flying offenses, and two of the best young coaches in college football.
And it lived up to the hype. Both Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. and Oregon’s Bo Nix brought their A-games to Husky Stadium, and the two offenses showed exactly why they were considered two of the best in the nation.
The two gunslinging quarterbacks combined for 639 yards and six touchdowns, but they weren’t the story when the final gun sounded.
The game didn’t finish on the strength of a quarterback’s arm or legs. It didn’t end with an interception or batted ball. As if it was some sort of cosmic omen carrying over from College GameDay earlier in the morning, this game was decided by a kick.
Oregon kicker Camden Lewis would decide if the game would continue into overtime, or if the Purple Reign would storm in the field.
Fortunately, for Washington football fans, it was the latter.
Lewis missed the 43-yard field goal and the green grass of Husky Stadium was nearly immediately covered in purple.
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What a beautiful sight.