Michael Penix Jr. passed for 430 yards and two touchdowns as No. 2 Washington beat No. 3 Texas 37-31 in the Sugar Bowl to advance to the College Football Playoff championship game,
Oregon St and Wash St say they have reached an agreement with 10 departing Pac-12 schools on revenue distribution for 2023-24 that puts an end to a legal battle sparked by conference realignment.
Conference realignment and the downfall of the Pac-12 is The Associated Press Sports Story of the Year. Over a span of six weeks this past summer, the Pac-12 was ripped apart and redistributed by its competitors.
The Pac-12 is returning to the College Football Playoff for the first time in seven years, has another school as part of the New Year’s Six and will send a total of eight teams to bowls in the last year with its current membership.
The Pac-12 Conference is having a heck of a final kick. No. 3 Washington and No. 5 Oregon are two of the four conference teams ranked in the AP Top 25. They meet Friday for an almost certain spot in the College Football Playoff.
The Washington state Supreme Court has granted a request by the University of Washington and the Pac-12 to put on hold a lower court’s ruling that gave Oregon State and Washington State control of the conference.
But Friday’s game at Autzen Stadium could be the last for the foreseeable future. Sixth-ranked Oregon is departing for the Big Ten next season, and No. 15 Oregon State will stay as one of two remaining teams in the Pac-12.
The final Pac-12 version of the Civil War will play a role in which team plays No. 4 Washington in the Pac-12 championship game. Win and the Ducks are in. Lose and No. 16 Arizona beats Arizona State, the Wildcats head to Las Vegas.