Why Apple Cup win was essential for Washington’s playoff hopes

Washington football struggled against the Washington State Cougars but a game-winning touchdown drive has the Huskies won win from the playoff. 

You never know what the reaction of the College Football Playoff committee if the Washington football team didn’t win on Saturday night in the Apple Cup.

The Huskies could have still made a strong case for themselves with a win over Oregon next week in the Pac-12 title game. They would be 12-1 with a conference title.

However, would that be enough to get in over a one-loss Texas team with a win over Alabama? Especially if Alabama is able to beat Georgia next week?

In that scenario, it’s not that hard to see the Huskies being left out of the College Football Playoff, even with a 12-1 record and two wins over Oregon.

Yet, Michael Penix Jr., in another potential Heisman Trophy moment, drove his team down the field for the game-winning field goal as time expired.

The Huskies are 12-0 which is an incredible achievement in its own right. Winning the Apple Cup is also important, but this win was an afterthought. It was critical for the Huskies who would have lost control of their playoff destiny with a defeat.

Now, the Pac-12 championship is probably a play-in game. I still think Oregon has something to worry about if Alabama and Texas win next week, plus Michigan and Florida State.

Because in that scenario, Texas has to get in. Then Oregon would need to get picked over Alabama, fresh off a win over Georgia.

So the Ducks might not control their own destiny as everyone thinks. But the Washington Huskies do and that means next week is the biggest game in Washington football history since the Rose Bowl back in 1992.