Kalen DeBoer on clinching Pac-12 Championship berth: 'The first box is checked'

A successful season comes with several milestones that you achieve. For Washington, their first came this weekend as, with their 22-20 win at Oregon State, they became the first team to clinch a berth in the Pac-12 Championship.

Kalen DeBoer spoke about the Huskies’ accomplishment during his postgame press conference in Corvallis on Saturday. His first action was to applaud his team because of how they asserted their position and took a spot in Las Vegas for themselves rather than leaving it up to fate or tiebreakers.

“I just congratulated the guys just now in the locker room,” said DeBoer. “You’re not backdoor-ing into a championship game. You’re just going in and outright claiming a spot.”

However, that’s as far as DeBoer and Washington went. They were all for a pat on the back for securing a spot in the conference championship. That’s especially so since they couldn’t achieve anything else on their list without doing this first. With that said, though, everyone on their team is well aware that this is the first step on the path to their ultimate goal.

“I know there’s a bigger picture piece to everything that we’re trying to accomplish too. But the first box is checked,” DeBoer explained. “You can’t win it unless you get there. I’m really proud.”

“That’s one of our goals that we set forth when we started the season on January 3rd – to win a Pac-12 Championship. So you have to enjoy it,” said DeBoer. “Otherwise, what’s the journey about if you just can’t, for a moment, enjoy what’s happening and what you’re a part of?”

In the visiting locker room inside Reser Stadium, Washington savored their 11th victory of the season. Still, they didn’t get full off it. With two games left to play, the Huskies know there’s more left on the table for them to take.

“The guys are excited, they’re celebrating in there a little bit. But I can honestly say that it’s not some crazy, off the wall celebration,” DeBoer said. “They know that there’s more business to take care of.”

Washington vs. Washington State odds: Early point spread released for Huskies, Cougars in Apple Cup

The 2023 Apple Cup between Washington and Washington State could have been the last one for the foreseeable future before both programs agreed to a five-year non-conference series on Sunday. Nevertheless, Saturday is the last Apple Cup as parts of the Pac-12 and will certainly be an incredibly emotional game with more than a little bit on the line. The Huskies are looking to finish their unbeaten regular season, while the Cougars want to spoil that and get bowl-eligible in the process.

The Huskies are hosting this game in Seattle and enter the game as a 14.5-point favorite per FanDuel. The over/under for the game is currently at 65.5 points.