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Complete viewer’s guide to Championship Weekend

By Cephas Evans

ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 08: Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (13) looks to throw the football during the College Football Playoff National Championship Game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Georgia Bulldogs on January 8, 2018 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 08: Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Tua Tagovailoa (13) looks to throw the football during the College Football Playoff National Championship Game between the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Georgia Bulldogs on January 8, 2018 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
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Jake Browning
PULLMAN, WA – NOVEMBER 23: Quarterback Jake Browning #3 throws a pass while be defefended by Nick Harris #56 and Luke Wattenberg #76 of the Washington Huskies in the second half against the Washington State Cougars at Martin Stadium during the 111th Apple Cup on November 23, 2018 in Pullman, Washington. Washington defeated Washington State 28-15. (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images) /

Pac-12: (17) Utah vs. (11) Washington – Friday 8:00 pm – FOX

On Friday, two of the best in the Pac-12 will battle it out for the conference championship and a trip to the Rose Bowl.

Washington will be playing for their second Pac-12 title in three years, but overall, the 2018 season has been a disappointment. The Huskies started the season with College Football Playoff hopes, but immediately dropped a game to Auburn and lost back-to-back conference games later in the season. Last weekend, Washington needed an Apple Cup victory over Washington State to clinch the division. The Huskies experience showed and helped Washington secure the North with a 28-15 victory.

Offensively, the Huskies are led by quarterback Jake Browning, who is a four-year starter and one of the best signal callers in the Pac-12. Over his decorated career, Browning has thrown for 11,796 yards, 94 touchdowns, and has a career passer rating of 153, but as good as Browning has played, it has been the Huskies defense that has brought this team to the championship. On the year, Washington ranks in the top-20 of all significant defensive statistics and are coming off a game in which they completely shut-down the Pac-12’s best offense. If the Huskies get another strong defensive performance, they will easily secure another trip to Pasadena.

Utah will be playing in the programs first Pac-12 Championship and hopes to get back to a New Years Six bowl for the first time since 2009. While it would be nice to see the Utes get their first Pac-12 title, no one should be counting on it. Utah has lost both their starting quarterback and running back to season-ending injuries, which will throw an inexperienced Jason Shelley in the mix at quarterback. Shelley has stayed poised and played well since filling in for Tyler Huntley but has yet to face a defense this talented. The Utes defense always shows up, so the pressure is on Shelley to lead this team to its first conference title.

The phrase “defense wins championships” couldn’t be more fitting for these two Pac-12 teams. Expect a defensive battle on Friday night, but the experience of Jake Browning will be the difference for the Huskies, who will win their second Pac-12 title in three years.

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