Washington Avoids Apple Cup Upset After Improbable Fourth Down Play Call

Huskies coach Kalen DeBoer made the call of the year to keep Washington’s undefeated season alive.

No. 4 Washington survived unranked Washington State’s upset bid in the Apple Cup by a final score of 24–21, but the Huskies can credit their narrow victory to an unbelievable fourth down play call on the final drive.

With the game tied 21-21 with just over a minute to play, the Huskies were faced with fourth-and-1 from their own 29-yard line. Instead of punting, Washington brought its offense out onto the field. 

Some college football fans might question this decision, but those college football fans don’t have the play call of the year drawn up like Washington coach Kalen DeBoer did.

Heisman contending quarterback Michael Penix Jr. took a shotgun snap and faked the read option up the middle. As the entire Washington State defense collapsed on running back Dillon Johnson, star wide receiver Rome Odunze sprinted from the right side of the formation back to the left. Penix pulled the ball from Johnson and pitched it to Odunze on the end around, who had nothing but green grass in front of him.

Odunze ended up scampering for a gain of 23 yards across midfield. The Huskies were able to get into field goal range and run the clock down for kicker Grady Gross, who hit a game-winning 42-yard field goal as time expired.

Washington will face No. 6 Oregon next Friday night in Las Vegas in the Pac-12 title game in a rematch of their regular season thriller in Seattle. 

If the Huskies win, they’ll likely punch their ticket to the College Football Playoff at 13-0. An undefeated Power 5 conference champion has never been left out of the CFP in its existence.