Kalen DeBoer explains toughest aspect of going undefeated, winning close games

Washington has essentially punched their ticket to the College Football Playoff after finishing undefeated at 13-0 following their Pac-12 title victory over No. 5 Oregon, who they’ve now defeated twice.

The Huskies haven’t necessarily dominated their competition the way you might expect for an undefeated power conference champion, certainly not like Georgia in either of the last two seasons. Instead, behind a superstar QB and a high-powered offense plus some great complimentary football elsewhere, Washington has thrived in close games, finding a way to close out wins each and every time they’ve taken the field.

Of course, that was true in the title game as well. Despite having toppled the Ducks at home during the regular season, Oregon came into the championship game in Las Vegas as more than touchdown favorites. But yet again, Washington held on to win by just a field goal to guarantee their playoff spot and win the league in its final year of existence as we currently know it.

“I’m just proud of our guys in the way they keep fighting, and we’re a resilient group,” head coach Kalen DeBoer commented during his Saturday morning appearance on College GameDay in reference to the Oregon win amid a season full of close victories.

“We really understand what it takes to finish in the fourth quarter. Our guys believe and trust in each other and they’ve just done a great job, you know, finding a way to win. It’s a team effort — offense, defense and special teams — each and every week.”

Plus, they’re getting every Pac-12 foe’s best effort on a weekly basis.

“Yeah, you just know you’re getting everybody’s best shot. Each and every week, you know, you’re the team to beat and people are going to bring their best and put a great game plan together,” said DeBoer.

“And you know, it’s a big win. And our schedule was just so tough down the stretch with so many ranked teams, and just proud of the resiliency, especially in November, and here with our conference championship the way we handled, really, four ranked teams when we played them.”

Just in November, Washington went on the road to beat a USC team that was still somewhat alive, before hosting Utah and going back on the road to face Oregon State. Throw in the scare in the Apple Cup plus a conference title matchup vs. Oregon and that’s one grueling month of games on the west coast.

For Kalen DeBoer and Washington, this conference title and CFP spot is 110% earned.