COMPLETE PDF RELEASE

RACE TO VEGAS

The 2023 Pac-12 Football Championship Game, presented by 76,  takes place on Friday, December 1st at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.  The game will be broadcast on ABC starting at 5:00 p.m. PT.  Here are the scenarios for the potential matchups:

• #4 Washington has clinched their spot in the game and will be the “home” team

• #6 Oregon can clinch the other spot with a win over #16 Oregon State on Friday OR an Arizona State win over Arizona on Saturday

• #15 Arizona needs BOTH a win over Arizona State on Saturday AND a win by #16 Oregon State over #6 Oregon on Friday

QUICK HITS

DAWG HOUSE:  Following their 22-20 win at then #11 Oregon State, Washington has moved up to #4 in this week’s College Football Playoff rankings.  Its the first time the Huskies have been placed in the CFP Top 4 since the final 2 rankings of the 2016 season.

CB Jabbar Muhammad played a huge role in the win over the Beavers with a pair of interceptions, the 5th Pac-12 player this season with multiple interceptions in a game.  Muhammad was not only rewarded with the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week but nationally honored as the Chuck Bednarik Defensive Player of the Week.  Additionally, Kalen DeBoer was named the national Dodd Trophy Coach of the Week.

BO KNOWS:  Oregon QB Bo Nix had a record-setting performance last week against Arizona State.  Nix went 24-of-29 for 404 passing yards and 6 pass TD, which tied the school’s single -game record.  In fact all 6 of Nix’s touchdowns came in the 1st half, becoming just the 2nd Pac-12 QB to thrown 6 TD in a half since at least 2012 (Washington State’s Luke Falk in 2015 against Oregon State).

For his efforts, Nix was named Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week for a record 7th time as well as being honored nationally as the Maxwell Award & Walter Camp Player of the Week and the Davey O’Brien QB of the Week.

FINAL CUT:  Washington LB Edefuan Ulofoshio was named 1 of the 5 finalists for the Butkus Award as the nation’s top linebacker.  Ulofoshio is hoping to become the 1st Husky to ever win and 1st Pac-12 player to honored since UCLA’s Eric Kendricks in 2014.  2 Huskies have previously been named finalists:  Hau’oli Kikaha (2014) and Dave Hoffmann (1992).

AWARD TOUR:  Several of the other national awards announced their semifinalists this week with numerous Pac-12 representatives honored:

     Walter Camp Award (Player of the Year) - 3 of 10 semifinalists

• DE Laiatu Latu, UCLA

• QB Bo Nix, Oregon

• QB Michael Penix, Jr., Washington

     Biletnikoff Award (Top receiver) - 2 of 10 semifinalists

• WR Troy Franklin, Oregon

• WR Rome Odunze, Washington

     Doak Walker Award (Top RB) - 1 of 10 semifinalists

• RB Damien Martinez, Oregon State

     Broyles Award (Top assistant coach) - 3 of 15 semifinalists

• Will Stein, Oregon Offensive Coordinator

• D’Anton Lynn, UCLA Defensive Coordinator

• Ryan Grubb, Washington Offensive Coordinator/QB Coach

GOOD SPORTS:  The NFL announced this week their 32 nominees for the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award, with the winner to be announced the week of the Super Bowl.  4 former Pac-12 stars are among the nominees:  Arizona Cardinals DB Budda Baker (Washington), Houston Texans WR Robert Woods (USC), Indianapolis Colts DL DeForest Buckner (Oregon) and NY Giants LB Bobby Okereke (Stanford).