SANTA CLARA, California (AP) Washington’s Taylor Rapp returned one of his two interceptions for a touchdown and Myles Gaskin ran for 159 yards to help the Huskies beat Colorado 41-10 in Friday’s Pac-12 conference championship game, and strengthen their case for a college football playoff berth.
The Huskies (12-1) broke open a close game when Rapp intercepted Sefo Liufau’s passes on the first two drives of the second half for a touchdown and to set up a field goal that made it 24-7.
Washington rolled from there to its first conference title since 2000 with a performance likely to keep the Huskies in the top four when the College Football Playoff bids are handed out Sunday.
It was a rough day for Colorado (10-3) and Liufau, who was knocked out of the game after injuring his right leg on a sack on the Buffaloes’ first drive of the game. He returned to start the second half and threw three interceptions, including one on the first play from scrimmage that Rapp returned 35 yards for a score.
Liufau threw another interception on the ensuing drive and Colorado never recovered. Even a kick return in the third quarter, which included a recovered fumble in midfield, couldn’t help the Buffaloes as the ensuing run was stopped at the 2-yard line.
NO. 13 WESTERN MICHIGAN 29, OHIO 23
At Detroit, Western Michigan’s Robert Spillane intercepted a pass with 51 seconds remaining, and the undefeated Broncos held off Ohio 29-23 to win their first Mid-American Conference title since 1988.
The Broncos (13-0) led 23-7 at halftime, but Ohio rallied and had the ball in WMU territory in the final minute when Spillane intercepted Greg Windham’s pass over the middle.
Ohio (8-5) never led and didn’t do much on offense until the final quarter, but the Bobcats still came achingly close to their first MAC championship since 1968.
Instead, WMU became the first undefeated team to win the MAC title game since Marshall in 1999. The question is whether the Broncos have done enough to make it to the Cotton Bowl. WMU is trying to earn the Group of Five bid to a New Year’s Six bowl.
Western Michigan’s Corey Davis had eight catches for 144 yards, including a 70-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter. Butch Hampton kicked five field goals, the last a 34-yarder that gave the Broncos a 29-23 lead with 1:24 remaining.
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