On the Pac-12 Title, the Playoffs, and Jake Browning

The Pac-12 has quite the precarious situation on its hands with its 2016 football title game, to be played Friday at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. between the No. 4 Washington Huskies and No. 8 Colorado Buffaloes.

The first play of the game drew a pass interference call on Colorado, and a huge gain for Washington. In favor of the Huskies. The bottom line is that Colorado is a well-coached, well-prepared, pesky team that has killed at the betting window all season. The ball was instead snagged by UW freshman safety Taylor Rapp, who covered the remaining 35 yards for a game-changing touchdown.

They did not need it. It was a bit of an overthrow and that led to the ball being left up for grabs.

Washington quarterback Jake Browning is in the Heisman Trophy conversation, but his opposite number at Colorado is no slouch, either.

If Clemson wins and last week’s committee rankings hold, Washington would be the No. 4 seed and probably face No. 1 Alabama in the Peach Bowl. Sefo Liufau is completing 64.6 percent of his passes for 2,150 yards, 11 touchdowns and three interceptions.

Browning was hurried and almost sacked.

While we don’t know which bowl game the Buffs will play in this postseason, we do know they’ll be going to a bowl for the first time since 2007.

Nothing really mattered after that. Colorado failed to convert and kicked a field goal to make it 10-34.

Washington’s first possession of the game offered no foreshadowing for its ensuing offensive struggles. Shay Fields and Devin Ross have combined for 1,577 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns while Bryce Bobo has 41 receptions.

The Huskies are playing not only for a Pac-12 Championship but for their College Football Playoff lives as well, as one of the best seasons in the history of the Washington program will reach it’s pivotal moment on Friday night. Browning went just 9 for 24 for 118 yards but did throw two TDs to give him 42 on the season, one shy of Jared Goff’s Pac-12 record. Myles Gaskin gained 159 yards on 29 carries, and Lavon Coleman picked up 101 yards on 18 attempts.

The Buffaloes dual threat quarterback has thrown for 2,150 yards with 11 touchdowns to three interceptions, and has added another 483 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground this season.

Colorado managed only 163 yards of total offense, averaging just 3.0 yards per play. Steven Montez went 5 for 12 for 60 yards in the first half and was unable to generate any consistent offense and Liufau was even worse when he returned. He’ll be congratulated on the sideline, no doubt, and then quickly scolded.

It’s a little insane to believe that Colorado has made it this far. The Buffaloes finished their regular season with six straight victories, and their only conference loss was on the road to USC back on October 8.

The Huskies’ path to the playoffs cleared up considerably Tuesday afternoon.