Yogi Roth breaks down Washington's resume with Pac-12 Championship win
The Washington Huskies have managed to go 12-0 this season in the final year of the Pac-12 Conference, one of the most difficult conferences in college football this year. The Huskies have been ranked inside the Top 5 for much of the season, which means they’ve always gotten everybody’s best shot.
And they’ve also survived a number of close calls, winning three games by three points or less. On Wednesday night, Pac-12 Network’s Yogi Roth joined Andy Staples to break down the Huskies’ resume if they win the 2023 Pac-12 Championship title.
Yogi Roth on the Washington Huskies and their resume
“Yeah, I mean right now they’ve got the highest strength of schedule among everybody who’s undefeated,” Roth explained. “I think Georgia might be up one or two slots. But after this game, it will be UW all day long. Look at their games, too. I can remember on the USC coaching staff when we were undefeated. It is hard. It’s way different than when you lose a game. Like, it’s much different than Alabama. You lose a game. And then backs against the wall. Or Oregon [losing] a game.”
One of the toughest parts about being ranked so highly week in, week out, is you get everybody’s best shot. Roth said the Huskies have managed to rise to the occasion each and every time.
“When the chips just continually get stacked on top of you and you get everybody’s best. That’s exactly what they’ve had. And they’ve met the moment.” Roth said on Wednesday night. “I mean, they’ve won every one score game. When they’ve needed a play, they’ve made a play. A lot of times, that’s been defensively. We know what Rome Odunze, Michael Penix, Jr. and this receiving corps can do. But they’re only getting stronger now. Jalen McMillan came back last week.
“Five grabs. He’s gonna be at full strength. They get Giles Jackson back for this game, because he only played in four and they’re preserving his redshirt. But the redshirt rule doesn’t apply to postseason play.”
In 13 total games last season, Jackson finished with 28 catches, 328 yards, one touchdown and 11.7 yards per catch. Over the course of his career, Jackson has 60 catches for 724 yards, two touchdowns and 12.1 yards per catch.
“And this is a postseason game. So, this team on the back end. I wouldn’t be surprised if Asa Turner played, a cornerback in their secondary,” the Pac-12 analyst noted.
Turner only played in two games so far this season for the Huskies, registering six tackles. Over the course of his career, Turner has 126 total tackles, 84 solo tackles, seven tackles for loss, six interceptions and two pass deflections.
Roth, like many college football fans across the country, is expecting one of the best games of the year as the final send off for the Pac-12 Championship Game.
“This will be an epic game. And I think that point spread is great for both teams. It’s great for Oregon because it’s showing the respect that they’re given,” Roth said. “Personally, man, I think they’re playing the best football of anybody in the country. Including Georgia, including Michigan the back half of the season.
“So, it’s great that they’re favored. I think they’ll win this game because they’ll get in the playoff. As they should. They’ve earned that, in my opinion. And then on the flip if UW wins, wow, they just beat a team that they weren’t favored to win. They have the resume we just described. And I’m hoping that they can collide. And get to see that puts them in the position to play in the Rose Bowl, because that’s exactly what should happen.”
The 2023 Pac-12 Championship Game between Oregon and Washington is set to be played in Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. Kick time is set for 8 p.m. EST on Friday, Dec. 1. The game will be nationally televised on ABC.