Odunze’s 18-yard TD helps No. 7 Washington beat No. 8 Oregon 36-33

Michael Penix Jr. might’ve had his Heisman moment on Saturday. 

With 2:11 left, Bo Nix and the No. 8 Ducks faced 4^th and 3 at Washington’s 46-yard line. Nix dropped back to pass and maneuvered a few steps before throwing an incomplete pass to the left side. 

Washington football. 

Penix took advantage of the field position and fired a 35-yard heave to receiver Ja’Lynn Polk setting the No. 7 Huskies up at Oregon’s 18-yard line. 

On the next play, Penix found receiver Rome Odunze on an 18-yard pass to give Washington the lead 36-33.

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It was enough to hold off Oregon’s final effort, as the Ducks advanced to Washington’s 25-yard line before Oregon kicker Camden Lewis missed a field goal try from 43 yards out. 

With 9:15 left, Penix converted a key 4^th and 6 on an 8-yard pass to receiver Giles Jackson to move the chains to the Oregon 8-yard line. 

But then, Oregon’s defense came up big. 

Washington running back Dillon Johnson ran seven yards to the 1-yard line setting up 2^nd and goal. The Ducks stuffed Johnson for a loss of one yard on the next play. 

On 3^rd and goal, Washington again turned to Johnson who again was stopped near the line of scrimmage, and the Huskies had a fourth-down situation on their hands. 

Washington’s Tybo Rogers took the football on fourth and goal, and Oregon’s defense led by Steve Stephens IV and Taki Taimani brought Rogers down for a loss and effectively held the lead 33-29 with 6:33 remaining. 

Oregon faced a 3^rd a 4 situation with less than four minutes remaining, and Nix lofted a 25-yard pass that was originally ruled incomplete to receiver Troy Franklin. It was the second third down that the Ducks converted on their 10-play, 51-yard drive that led to Washington taking over near midfield. 

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Oregon outgained Washington 541 yards to 415. The Huskies scored in three of their four red zone trips while the Ducks went three for five. 

Penix finished with 302 passing yards, four touchdowns and an interception. Odunze and Polk each totaled over 100 receiving yards and had 128 and 118, respectively. 

Nix completed 75% of his passes for 337 yards and two touchdowns.