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Live updates: No. 5 Oregon football faces No. 3 Washington in Pac-12 title game showdown

chris hansen and alec dietz, eugene register-guard
·7 min read
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In a rematch that has been speculated about since the first showdown in mid-October, No. 5 Oregon football will look to win the second time around, capture a Pac-12 championship and vault into the College Football Playoffs all in one fell swoop Friday when the Ducks play No. 3 Washington in Las Vegas.

The Ducks' (11-1, 8-1 Pac-12) only loss of the season came to the Huskies (12-0, 9-0 Pac-12) in Seattle, and since, Oregon has been completely dominant. The Ducks downed No. 20 Oregon State 31-7 last week while Washington narrowly got the win over rival Washington State, 24-21.

The Ducks are looking to make sure that what happened in October doesn’t happen again at 5 p.m. Friday at Allegiant Stadium.

“We didn’t finish,” Oregon coach Dan Lanning said. “We didn’t win the game last time. So that’s the kind of thing that sticks with you. Our coaches have been working extremely hard as soon as our game was over as far as getting prep and so have our players.”

Two top-5 teams, two Heisman hopefuls, two programs trying to stay in the hunt for a College Football Playoff berth all adds up to one epic rematch in the Pac-12 championship game.

Kickoff time set for Oregon football vs. Washington

Kickoff for the Oregon football vs. Washington game is at 5 p.m. at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. The game will be televised on ABC.

Pregame

Starting cornerback Jahlil Florence was not seen during pregame warmups with the team after missing last week's game against Oregon State. Dontae Manning or Trikweze Bridges are expected to start opposite Khyree Jackson at kickoff.

Starting receiver Gary Bryant Jr. warmed up pregame after a scary tackle last week against the Beavers. Bryant has 26 catches for 380 yards and three touchdowns this season and is expected to play.

Kickoff

Captains Bo Nix, Troy Franklin, Jeffrey Bassa, and Brandon Dorlus called tails and won the coin toss, deferring to the second half. Kickoff at 5:15 p.m. PT.

5:20 p.m.: Early injury for Ducks

Defensive end Jordan Burch went down and gingerly hobbled off the field during the Huskies' opening drive.

5:32 p.m.: Huskies take a 3-0 lead

The Ducks' defense came up with a sack and two stops after the Huskies had 1st and 10 at the Oregon 15, and Grady Gross kicked a 38-yard field goal to give Washington a 3-0 lead with 7:34 to play in the first quarter. The Huskies' opened the game with a 15-play drive that last 7:26.

5:37 p.m.: Oregon offense goes three-and-out

The Ducks' opening drive lasted three plays and three incompletions from quarterback Bo Nix.

5:44 p.m.: Washington's lead grows to 10-0

Dillon Johnson scored on a 5-yard run and the Huskies have taken a 10-0 lead with 3:46 to play in the first quarter. Washington has run 20 plays to the Ducks’ 3 and has had the ball for 10:49 to the Ducks’ 25 seconds.

5:50 p.m.: Another three-and-out for Oregon offense

The Ducks again had a drive last just three plays and the Oregon defense is back on the field after a short break.

5:55 p.m.: Washington leads 10-0 at end of the first quarter

The Huskies dominated the first quarter and are driving again. They have 117 yards of offense to 9 for Oregon, 25 plays to six for Oregon and had possession for 13:13 to 1:47 for Oregon.

6:08 p.m.: Troy Franklin injured

The Ducks' top receiver had to be treated by medicaL staff on the field after an incompletion on third down. They appeared to be looking at his left shoulder. The injury came on the same drive Franklin set the program record for catches in a season with his 78th reception.

Oregon Ducks quarterback Bo Nix (10) drops back to pass against the Washington Huskies in the first half at Allegiant Stadium Dec. 1, 2023, in Las Vegas.
Oregon Ducks quarterback Bo Nix (10) drops back to pass against the Washington Huskies in the first half at Allegiant Stadium Dec. 1, 2023, in Las Vegas.

6:12 p.m.: Oregon gets on the board

Camden Lewis booted a 36-yard field with 8:46 to play in the second quarter as Oregon cut into the Huskies' lead, 10-3.

6:19: Huskies strike quick, take 17-3 lead

A 45-yard catch by Jalen McMllian set up a 4-yard TD pass by Dillon Johnson to Germie Bernard and Washington is up 17-3 with 6:48 to play in the first half. The two TD deficit is the largest for the Ducks this season.

6:46 p.m.: Ducks score to cut deficit heading into halftime

Terrance Ferguson snagged a one-handed TD catch as the Ducks got into the end zone for the first time with with 9 seconds left in the first half. Oregon will go into halftime trailing 20-10 but will get the ball to start the second half.

7:20 p.m.: Ducks open second half with a TD drive

Bo Nix threw his second touchdown pass of the game to Terrance Ferguson as the Ducks pulled to within 20-17 after scoring on the opening drive of the second half. The 2-yard completion came on fourth down and was the second fourth down Oregon converted on the drive.

7:27 p.m.: Oregon gets first turnover of the game

Cornerback Khyree Jackson intercepted Michael Penix Jr., at the Ducks’ 41 to end the Huskies’ first drive of the second half.

7:47 p.m.: Oregon takes a 24-20 lead

Jordan James puts the Ducks into the lead for the first time with a 6-yard TD run with 1:51 to play in the third quarter. The drive was sparked by a 44-yard run by Bo Nix to the Huskies’ 11 yard line. Oregon has now scored 21 straight after trailing 20-3.

7:51 p.m.: Oregon 24, Washington 20, end of 3rd quarter

8:05 p.m.: Washington regains the lead

Dillon Johnson scores his second TD of the game on a 1-yard rush as the Huskies go back on top 27-24 with 12:23 to play in the game. The Ducks appeared to recover a fumble by Michael Penix Jr., earlier in the drive but was overturned by review.

8:25 p.m.: Washington takes a 10-point lead

The Huskies may have finished off the Ducks, getting a TD with 2:44 left to go up by two scores, 34-24. Michael Penix Jr., threw a 2-yard pass to tight end Quentin Moore to cap a 12-play, 82-yard drive that took 6:20 off the clock.

8:30 p.m.: Ducks aren't dead yet

Wide receiver Traeshon Holden took a pass 63 yards for a touchdown on the second play of Oregon's drive and the Ducks make it 34-31 with 2:14 to play. Holden was initially ruled out at the Washington 4, but after review it was determined he scored. Oregon will kickoff with three timeouts left.

8:45 p.m.: No. 5 Oregon loses Pac-12 Championship game to No. 3 Washington, 34-31

The Ducks fell behind 20-3 in the first half but rallied to take a 24-20 lead in the third quarter. The Huskies followed with the next 10 points to go up-34-24 and Oregon couldn’t recover.

With the win, the Huskies (13-0) remain undefeated and will play in the College Football Playoff. The Ducks (11-2) lost for the second time to Washington this season and will find out their bowl fate on Sunday.

It was Oregon's third straight loss to the Huskies over the last two seasons, all by three points.

Here are takeaways from Oregon's dramatic loss to Washington.

Stories to get you up to speed for Oregon football game day

Follow Chris Hansen on Twitter @chansen_RG or email at chansen@registerguard.com. For more sports coverage, visit registerguard.com. Want more stories like this? Subscribe to get unlimited access and support local journalism.

Alec Dietz covers University of Oregon football, volleyball, women’s basketball and baseball for The Register-Guard. You may reach him at adietz@registerguard.com and you can follow him on Twitter @AlecDietz.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Pac-12 championship: Updates from Oregon football, Washington rematch