Pac-12 Football Power Rankings, Week 13: Washington takes top spot
By Dana Becker
Injuries to starting quarterback Tyler Huntley and 1,000-yard rusher Zack Moss failed to do Utah in, as the Utes replaced them and continued to march on. Now, they get a shot at Washington in the Pac-12 Championship this week after extinguishing rival BYU this past Saturday.
Jason Shelley has stepped in as a replacement for Huntley, throwing for 723 yards with three touchdowns. Armand Shyne has taken over the lead back role, racking up 442 yards and five touchdowns.
Shelley, a freshman from Texas, has led wins over Oregon, Colorado and the Cougars down the stretch, attempting over 80 passes without an interception. He’s also gone over the 200-yard mark in total offense in each of the past three games.
Utah has yet to win a Pac-12 title, claiming the Mountain West Conference championship four times including in 2008. They also won titles in the Western Athletic Conference, Skyline Conference, Big Seven Conference and Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference.
Earlier this year, Washington had no trouble taking care of Utah, posting a 21-7 victory. They secured a rematch with the Utes by downing Washington State this past Saturday in the Apple Cup, 28-15, earning a third-straight victory.
Jake Browning was efficient considering the conditions of constant snow and wind, completing 11 of 14 for 207 yards. While still a far cry from his sophomore year that featured 43 touchdowns and a spot in the College Football Playoff semifinals, Browning has thrown for 2,692 yards with 16 scores.
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Myles Gaskin, who has found his second win this year, ran for 143 yards on 30 carries in the first meeting with the Utes. The senior has three consecutive 100-yard games since returning from an injury, completing his fourth season with over 1,000 yards.
Washington is searching for its 17th conference title and first since 2016. The Huskies ended a 16-year drought from their last league crown with that victory two years ago after winning titles seven times from 1980-2000.