Washington vs. Oregon score: Michael Penix Jr. delivers yet again as Huskies notch crucial top-10 rivalry win

The Huskies solidified themselves as legitimate College Football Playoff contenders in the top-10 showdown

No. 7 Washington stormed back late in the fourth quarter to take down No. 8 Oregon and grab control of the Pac-12 title race with a 36-33 win at home. Michael Penix Jr. added to his case for the Heisman Trophy, not just with 302 passing yards and four touchdowns but by engineering the game-winning touchdown drive after Oregon had failed to convert on a fourth down late in the game near midfield. It took Penix just two incredible passes to move the ball 53 yards down the field and find the end zone against a Ducks defense that had kept the Huskies in check for much of the second half. 

Penix and star wide receiver Rome Odunze identified a matchup advantage in the coverage before the snap and capitalized on it for an 18-yard score that ultimately proved to be the game-winner. Odunze's performance comes as no surprise; he's served as Penix's favorite target throughout the season and again on Saturday with eight catches for 128 yards and two touchdowns. When fellow wide receiver Jalen McMillan was knocked out of the game with an injury early, he and the rest of the receiving room stepped up and answered the call. 

Driving half of the field for a game-winning touchdown in a top-10 battle is the sign of a mature and resilient team that now has cemented itself as a College Football Playoff contender with one of the best wins in the country. Washington's offense had just been stopped near the goal line on fourth down earlier in the fourth quarter but was not deterred when the defense gave them another opportunity to go and win the game. 

"We just know we've gotta keep fighting," Washington coach Kaelen DeBoer said after the game. "We've been tested many times, and we just know how we're going to respond and how we're going to keep fighting."  

There will be plenty of Oregon fans reviewing whether the three fourth-down attempts -- all of which failed -- were the right decisions. Oregon coach Dan Lanning has long stood strong on the ideals of Oregon being an aggressive football team, and his decisions on both fourth down and 2-point tries have remained consistent throughout the season. 

But in a game that ended on a failed field goal attempt from 43 yards to tie the game, all of those decisions at the margins are going to get a second look. Oregon out-gained Washington by more than 100 yards (541-415), had more first downs (32-24) and clearly had the chance to ice the game late after playing winning football for much of the second half. In the end, it was Penix and Washington who delivered the statement plays in the biggest moments of this clash between Pac-12 title contenders. 

1. Lanning stands by almost all of those fourth-down calls

Lanning stood firm on his decision to go for it on fourth down instead of taking a chip-shot field goal right before halftime when interviewed by ESPN heading into the locker room, but after losing by three points on a game-ending missed field goal, he had a different tone in the postgame press conference. According to The Oregonian, Lanning pointed to that fourth-down try as one to revisit. 

"The one before half is where you can say take that field goal," Lanning acknowledged, but defended the decisions near midfield late in the fourth quarter that set up Washington for the game-winning drive. Short-yardage situations should be winning moments for this Oregon team, but still he declared that the game was "100% on me." -- Patterson

2. Penix gets his Heisman moment

Looking back at the legends of college football who have won the most prestigious individual award in the sport, they all have one thing in common: a Heisman moment. After Saturday, Michael Penix Jr. now has one. Not only that, he is the first of all the potential Heisman Trophy contenders to deliver a signature moment this season. With his team trailing by four points in the final two minutes of the game, Penix made two of the biggest throws of his career. The first was a 35-yard completion to Ja'Lynn Polk before the 18-yard game-winner to Odunze -- a moment that could go down as one of the most iconic plays in Washington history if the Huskies run the table and reach the College Football Playoff. 

Penix played a majority of the second half not at 100%, but it didn't matter. He was only on the field for 33 seconds of the final 6:33 in regulation, but he made every second count. Washington faces USC in Los Angeles on Nov. 4, and a showdown with reigning Heisman winner Caleb Williams could loom large for his chances to win the award. -- Salerno

3. Washington thrust into the conversation of CFP contenders

The Huskies' closest thing to a "good win" was a road victory at Michigan State, which in many years is a quality victory. It might not count for much this season, though. Now Washington has a win against a top-10 opponent that might not fall that far in the rankings given how close the game was. Considering the quality of this Oregon team, it's likely the victory will continue to hold weight throughout the season. 

The more interesting postgame approach is to consider the case of this strong Oregon squad and what it will take to battle back into the Pac-12 championship and College Football Playoff picture. The Ducks still have Washington State, Utah, USC and Oregon State left on the schedule with no wiggle room in terms of avoiding a second loss in conference play. But if Oregon can navigate that treacherous path, there could be an opportunity for revenge on the first weekend in December. A win in the Pac-12 title game, combined with all the other victories it took to get there, should be enough for the CFP selection committee. 

As for Washington, this is the first of what needs to be several stellar showings if the Huskies are to finish the season with an undefeated record. USC, Utah, Oregon State and Washington State are the final four opponents of the season, and like Oregon it faces the potential of slipping up against one of those top-end Pac-12 teams late in the year. What Penix and the Huskies have shown with their resilience says such a path does not intimidate this team because every game that is a dogfight is one that Washington has the dogs to win. -- Patterson

4. Bo Nix played well enough to win this football game

While the record will retain a loss for Nix as starting quarterback, this falls far from the "Road Bo" reputation that followed him during his time at Auburn. Nix completed 33 of 44 passes for 337 yards and two touchdowns with no turnovers, which is a better completion percentage and less turnovers than Penix. He delivered almost as many clutch throws as his Washington counterpart, and at one point in the second half completed 13 of 14 passes. Nix will have more chances to prove his candidacy for individual awards against the aforementioned gauntlet of quality opponents, but for this weekend there remains frustration that "Road Bo" played well enough to win on the road yet ends up on the losing end of a duel with Penix for the second year in a row. -- Patterson   

[Oct 14, 2023 at 7:27 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Washington wins it

Final: Washington 36, Oregon 33

The Huskies survive. Oregon had a chance to send the game to overtime, but kicker Camden Lewis missed a 43-yard field goal at the buzzer. Penix finished the day 22 of 37 for 302 yards with four touchdowns and he tossed the game-winning score to Rome Odunze. That touchdown extended Washington's win streak to 13 games dating back to last season and that touchdown throw could potentially turn out to be his Heisman moment. Penix played most of the second half not at 100%, but he was able to lead his team on a 2-play, 53-yard drive that turned out to be the winner.

[Oct 14, 2023 at 7:17 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Heisman moment?

Late 4Q: No. 7 Washington 36, No. 8 Oregon 33

Michael Penix Jr. just made two of the biggest throws of his college career. The first, was a 35-yard completion to Ja'Lynn Polk and the second was a 18-yard touchdown strike to star wide receiver Rome Odunze. Oregon will have 1:38 and one timeout to potentially tie or win this game.

[Oct 14, 2023 at 7:12 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

UW will get one more chance

Late 4Q: No. 8 Oregon 33, No. 7 Washington 29

The Huskies defense made the biggest play of the day and stopped Oregon on fourth down. They will get the ball back near midfield. Michael Penix Jr. will get one more crack at it to preserve Washington's perfect season. This could be the potential Heisman moment he's been looking for.

[Oct 14, 2023 at 6:55 pm ET · Chip Patterson]

Oregon with a momentous goal line stand

4Q: Oregon 33, Washington 29

Washington used nearly half of the fourth quarter clock (6:18 to be exact) to march down the field and set up a scoring opportunity at the goal line only to see it stuffed by the Ducks. The spot where Oregon has taken control of this game in the second half has been at the line of scrimmage, and what was relentless pressure on Michael Penix has now also stepped up in the form of run stopping in short yardage situations. Bo Nix and the Oregon offense now have the opportunity to control the game's final minutes if they can string together a couple first downs, but having the ball in your hands is the best you could ask for in a hostile road environment. 

[Oct 14, 2023 at 6:54 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

UW can't respond

Early 4Q: No. 8 Oregon 33, No. 7 Washington 29

Washington had the ball inside the 1-yard line on second down and still couldn't punch it in with three plays. The Huskies ran Johnson twice and he couldn't get any closer to the goal line and Tybo Rogers was stopped for a 1-yard loss on fourth-and-goal. It's obvious that star quarterback Michael Penix Jr. is in some obvious pain and he's been hit hard on the afternoon. Washington's defense will need to answer the bell in order to stay in this game.

[Oct 14, 2023 at 6:22 pm ET · Chip Patterson]

Complimentary football from the Ducks 

3Q: Washington 29, Oregon 26

The question of whether or not Oregon should have kicked a field goal in the red zone now sits differently after the Ducks' defense came up with a three-and-out stop and then Bo Nix took advantage of good field position to lead the offense to the end zone. A 30-yard touchdown toss to Troy Franklin cut into Washington's lead, and then the Ducks converted on the two-point try to make it a field goal game. 

Fascinating situation unfolding in Seattle as Lanning's aggressiveness has produced empty scoring opportunities while also setting up good field position and an eventual score thanks to the Ducks defense. 

[Oct 14, 2023 at 6:16 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Washington can't take advantage 

Late 3Q: No. 7 Washington 29, No. 8 Oregon 18

After the Washington defense forced another red zone stop, the offense couldn't capitalize. The Huskies went three-and-out and now Oregon should get the ball back off the punt in good field position. A touchdown from Washington could've made this game a lot more difficult to come back from.

[Oct 14, 2023 at 6:14 pm ET · Chip Patterson]

Another red zone turnover on downs for the Ducks 

3Q: Washington 29, Oregon 18

For the second time in this game, Oregon went for it on fourth down near the goal line and failed to convert. Dan Lanning has long stood by his expectation for an aggressive approach to Ducks football, but here it's left six points on the board in exchange for zero in an 11-point game. To Lanning's credit, Oregon has been an aggressive team -- not just on fourth down but also two-point ties -- all season in nearly all situations, but now the Ducks defense returns to the field needing to get a stop or else this game could slide out of control quickly. 

[Oct 14, 2023 at 5:59 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Good start for Washington 

Early 3Q: No. 7 Washington 29, No. 8 Oregon 18

After getting a stop on defense to open up the half, the Washington offense went on a 6-play, 65-yard drive that ended with Penix tossing his third touchdown pass of the day to Odunze. The star wide receiver has seven catches for 110 yards and that 17-yard touchdown was his fifth of the season. Washington has totaled 310 yards of total offense thus far and this is the largest lead for any team today.

[Oct 14, 2023 at 5:27 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

UW makes a stop

Halftime: No. 7 Washington 22, No. 8 Oregon 18

Coming into Saturday, Washington's defense had allowed touchdowns on all seven goal-to-go drives, but for the first time all season, they finally came up with a stop. Nix was looking for the end zone in the final moments of the half but UW was able to get its biggest pass breakup of the season to head into the break up four. Washington's defense allowed 231 yards in the first half and 115 of them came on the ground.

[Oct 14, 2023 at 5:21 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Penix turns it over

Late 2Q: No. 7 Washington 22, No. 8 Oregon 18

Penix made his first mistake of the day and threw an interception to Jahlil Florence for only his third interception of the season. The interception came a few plays after Washington tight end Jack Westove had an early nomination for catch of the week. Washington elected to go for it on fourth-and-1 and Penix rolled out and fired an off balance throw to his tight end. Westover was able to haul it with his fingertips and replay confirmed that it was indeed a catch. Now the UW defense will have to get a stop in the final minute of thew first half.

[Oct 14, 2023 at 5:11 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

UW forces FG attempt

Late 2Q: No. 7 Washington 22, No. 8 Oregon 18

Washington linebacker Edefuan Ulofoshio made the biggest defensive play of the day so far and his sack on Nix pushed Oregon back and forced them to settle for a field goal. Oregon kicker Camden Lewis converted on the 45-yard field goal attempt to cut the Washington lead to four in the final moments of the first half. This game is expected to be a shootout and it could come down to who can get the most stops on defense.

[Oct 14, 2023 at 5:03 pm ET · Chip Patterson]

Ducks defense has another threat to worry about 

2Q: Washington 22, Oregon 15 

Oregon's defense has done everything it can, both this week and so far in the game on Saturday, to try and be prepared for the threat that Michael Penix and star-packed wide receiver room present. But here in the middle stages of the second quarter we see another mode of attack from the Huskies, and it's running the football with Dillon Johnson. Johnson's up to 71 yards and a score on 11 carries, and now Oregon must figure out how to adjust without creating issues in the pass defense. Oregon coach Dan Lanning was an elite defensive coordinator prior to being hired to coach the Ducks, and now it's time for him and his staff to find an answer for a Washington offense that just showed even more balance than expected. 

[Oct 14, 2023 at 5:02 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

UW answers, again

Mid 2Q: No. 7 Washington 22, No. 8 Oregon 15

Stop me if you have heard this before: Washington responded by scoring a touchdown. Washington RB Dillon Johnson rushed for a 7-yard score to help his team retake the lead. The Huskies have scored on three consecutive drives after punting the ball away on the first series of the day. Washington elected to go for a 2-point conversion to extend its lead to seven. Washington already has 254 yards of total offense, while Oregon has 151.

[Oct 14, 2023 at 4:44 pm ET · Chip Patterson]

Terrific response by Bo Nix 

2Q: Oregon 15, Washington 14

Bucky Irving continues to be a crucial part of this Oregon game plan, stringing together a couple solid runs during Oregon's 75-yard touchdown drive to retake the lead in Seattle. The score comes thanks to Bo Nix and Patrick Herbert shortly after Nix had an important scramble and 24-yard pass to Tez Johnson to set up the Ducks in scoring position. Those who were expecting a shootout saw some warning signs of something else early but things have quickly settled into two of the nation's best quarterbacks trading paint in a high-stakes setting. 

[Oct 14, 2023 at 4:43 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Washington's defense can't get off the field

Early 2Q: No. 8 Oregon 15, No. 7 Washington 14

If you like offense, this is the game for you. Washington's defense came into the weekend allowing only 18.4 points per game, which ranked No. 4 in the Pac-12. Oregon has already scored 15 points and there is bound to be more where that came from because this game is gearing up to be an offensive shootout in the Pacific Northwest. Nix connected with Herbert for an 11-yard touchdown to take the lead back because of the successful 2-point conversion on the first drive.

[Oct 14, 2023 at 4:28 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

UW answers

Late 1Q: No. 7 Washington 14, No. 8 Oregon 8

What a response by the Huskies. Washington used a 8-play, 75-yard drive that was capped with a 26-yard touchdown strike from Penix to wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk to retake the lead. Penix is 7 of 11 for 126 yards with two touchdowns with the first quarter winding down. If McMillan is indeed out, Polk will be one of the players who is asked to step up in his absence.

[Oct 14, 2023 at 4:22 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

UW potentially down star WR

The status of Washington star wide receiver Jalen McMillan is up in the air, per the ABC broadcast. McMillan was seen on the sideline without his helmet and it's unclear if he will play today. McMillan has been out the last two games because of a leg injury suffered in the win over Michigan State. Definitely something to keep an eye on the rest of the day.

[Oct 14, 2023 at 4:20 pm ET · Chip Patterson]

Oregon jumps ahead with TD, 2-point try 

1Q: Oregon 8, Washington 7 

Justin Herbert's little brother Patrick took the snap on the two-point try and punches it in for a go-ahead score after Bo Nix led the Ducks 90 yards in 14 plays for Oregon's first touchdown of the game. Oregon was patient, taking a handful of yards at a time and capitalizing on an opportunity that was provided by an unsportsmanlike penalty on Washington that set the Ducks up inside the opposing 40-yard line. Bucky Irving stepped up with the 12-yard touchdown run, giving him 39 yards on 7 carries for the day. 

[Oct 14, 2023 at 4:16 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Costly penalty 

Mid 1Q: No. 8 Oregon 8, No. 7 Washington 7

The most penalized team in the FBS is off to a rough start. After Washington forced an incompletion on second-and-10, the defense received an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty, which extended the drive and led to a 12-yard touchdown run by Oregon RB Bucky Irving. Instead of kicking the extra point, Oregon went for a 2-point conversion on a trick play and Patrick Herbert, the younger brother of Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Hebert, converted it.

[Oct 14, 2023 at 4:04 pm ET · Chip Patterson]

Oregon pass defense picked apart on Penix's second drive 

Early 1Q: No. 7 Washington 7, No. 8 Oregon 0

Michael Penix and Kaelen DeBoer may have found their target in the passing game, picking on the back end of Oregon's secondary for a 43-yard pass to Rome Odunze and then a 26-yard touchdown to Giles Jackson Jr., who is in his first game back from injury. The precision of Penix should come as no surprise, but Washington's big plays en route to a touchdown also included some structural issues as well for the defense. Now it's on to Bo Nix to try and deliver an answer and get the shootout underway. 

[Oct 14, 2023 at 4:02 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

UW strikes first

Early 1Q: No. 7 Washington 7, No. 8 Oregon 0

Welcome back, Giles Jackson. The former Michigan wide receiver is seeing his first action of 2023 after missing the first five games of the season. Penix connected with Jackson for a 26-yard touchdown to get on the board first. After a slow start on the first drive, the Huskies responded with two big plays, which included a long pitch and catch from Penix to Odunze.

[Oct 14, 2023 at 3:51 pm ET · Chip Patterson]

Ducks getting their wings in the way 

Oregon's defensive front not only started the game applying some pressure to Michael Penix but was able to get their hands on two pass attempts to bat them down. I wonder if the Ducks saw something on film to have them keyed into disrupting the passing lanes, which on the first drive of the game made the difference in slowing the Huskies down. 

[Oct 14, 2023 at 3:51 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Washington punts on its first possession 

Early 1Q: No. 7 Washington 0, No. 8 Oregon 0

After the Huskies drive started with a 13-yard gain by running back Dillon Johnson, they couldn't manage much more. UW star quarterback Michael Penix Jr. connected with Rome Odunze for a 2-yard gain, but then tossed a pair of incompletions to stall the drive. Oregon will now get its first crack on offense against a stout UW defense,

[Oct 14, 2023 at 3:18 pm ET · Chip Patterson]

30 minutes from kickoff

Kickoff is looking like it will around 3:45 p.m. ET/12:45 p.m. local in Seattle, with the showdown getting full big game treatment on a national stage. It's a real test for how each coach has managed their respective locker room, making sure they have the right combination of energy and focus to get off to a good start in what will very possibly be a long game with plenty of swings. 

[Oct 14, 2023 at 3:15 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Oregon vs. Washington prediction 

Penix has been better and far more explosive than Nix, but Oregon has looked like the more complete team. The Huskies are explosive, but the Ducks have more down-to-down consistency. This will be one of the top matchups of the season, and it could go either way. However, home field advantage and a Heisman-level day from Penix gets UW over the finish line. Pick: Washington -3 -- Shehan Jeyarajah

[Oct 14, 2023 at 3:00 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Reinforcements on the way for Washington 

The Huskies will get back two key players back for their matchup against Oregon on Saturday. ESPN reported that UW wide receiver Giles Jackson, who started five games last season, will be in action for the first time in 2023. Washington safety Asa Turner is also back after suffering an upper body injury against Tulsa on Sept. 9. Both players won't start, but nonetheless, a positive update on the Washington front.

[Oct 14, 2023 at 2:45 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Battle of No. 1 vs. No. 2

If you like offense, this game is for you. Washington and Oregon rank No. 1 and 2 nationally in total offense, respectively. The two West Coast programs also rank No. 2 and No. 3 in scoring offense and the team at the top of the rankings is Pac-12 foe USC. Whoever wins this game will put themselves in the driver's seat to be one of the teams that represents the conference at the Pac-12 title game in December. Washington plays USC in Southern California on Nov. 4 and Oregon hosts USC the following weekend on Nov. 11. At the halfway point in the season, those three programs have separated themselves in the Pac-12 title race. Hence the reason why this game looms large.

[Oct 14, 2023 at 2:30 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Biggest matchup in the rivalry 

Saturday will mark meeting No. 115 between the proud West Coast programs and it will be the first matchup when both teams are ranked in the top 10. Washington and Oregon have both had substantial success in the College Football Playoff era and they are the only two teams from the Pac-12 to make the CFP. Oregon and Washington have combined win eight of the last 13 conference championships and the winner of this matchup should certainly be the top contender to win the title in Las Vegas.

[Oct 14, 2023 at 2:15 pm ET · Cameron Salerno]

Penix for Heisman?

Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. didn't have to come back to school and he could've put his name in the 2023 NFL Draft. Instead, he elected to come back for another season and that move has appeared to pay off. Penix is on pace to have the best statical season of his six-year college career and he is raising his draft stock in the process. So far this season, Penix has completed 133 of 178 passes (74.4%) for 1,999 yards with 16 touchdowns. A win over Oregon on Saturday could be a turning point for a program looking to get back to the College Football Playoff.