After getting routed by Georgia in the first game of the season, Oregon spent the next two months doing nothing but winning. In the process, the Ducks got themselves back into the national championship picture. Unfortunately for Oregon, that all came to an end with a complete meltdown in the final minutes of Saturday’s game against Pac-12 rival, Washington.
The two teams went back and forth for most of the game. But the Ducks led 31-27 after three quarters and built on that lead when kicker Camden Lewis hit a 26-yard field goal with 3:54 remaining. The Huskies quickly responded when Michael Penix Jr. and Taj Davis connected on a 62-yard touchdown pass, tying the game.
Michael Penix Jr. to Taj Davis for a 62-yard touchdown! Washington tied it up with the XP.
Penix has thrown for 399 yards. 🏈 pic.twitter.com/5n6ddyj21y
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) November 13, 2022
It only got worse from there.
With starting quarterback Bo Nix temporarily sidelined with an injury, the Ducks faced a fourth-and-one from deep in their own territory. Oregon rolled the dice, with disastrous results.
Oh no, Oregon. 🏈 pic.twitter.com/VFHdNjc08q
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) November 13, 2022
Washington gained only eight yards on its subsequent possession. But thanks to the turnover on downs, the Huskies were already in field goal range. Peyton Henry gave them the lead, splitting the uprights from 43 yards out.
🚨Washington for the lead! 🚨 pic.twitter.com/X3XolRxTO4
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) November 13, 2022
It briefly appeared as though Nix had gotten the Ducks into field goal range. But a 15-yard completion from Nix to Tony Franklin was negated when Franklin was penalized for an illegal touch, with the officials ruling that he stepped out of bounds before catching the ball.
That gave Oregon one chance at the end zone. When Nix’s pass came up short of his intended receiver, Washington had completed the upset.
🚨UPSET ALERT🚨
No. 25 Washington takes down No. 6 Oregon, 37-34 in Eugene! 🏈 #CFP pic.twitter.com/wnYji004yk
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) November 13, 2022
The upset win brought about a big reaction from college football fans.
Washington beats a top ten Oregon team for the first time in program history. Had been 0-7 coming into this game.
Redemption for Peyton Henry who kicked the game winning FG tonight, after missing a game winning FG on this field four years ago. What a freaking game
— Ashley Adamson (@AdamsonAshley) November 13, 2022
Oregon, the king of late season WTFs, may have just pulled off their biggest WTF ever.
— Brandon Walker (@BFW) November 13, 2022
Washington wins. What a game. The way Oregon lost that is SO painful. My gosh.
— Pat Forde (@ByPatForde) November 13, 2022
Oregon fans rn pic.twitter.com/6vPbltjaQf
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) November 13, 2022
Washington just saved a lot of my peers from the embarrassment of continuing to suggest Oregon’s loss to Georgia was the exact same as Tennessee’s loss to Georgia.
That’s a win for my beloved profession.
— Wes Rucker (@wesrucker247) November 13, 2022
Two things, equally true:
Oregon is out of the CFP race, which is bad for the Pac-12
Washington is back, which is good for the Pac-12
— Jon Wilner (@wilnerhotline) November 13, 2022
