Utah Utes

Utah, Washington vie for Rose Bowl spot in Pac-12 title game

Published Nov. 29, 2018 8:11 a.m. ET

Pac-12 championship

No. 17 Utah (9-3, 6-3, No. 17 CFP) vs. No. 10 Washington (9-3, 7-2, No. 11 CFP) at Santa Clara, California, Friday, 8 p.m. EST (Fox)

Line: Washington by 5.

Series Record: Washington leads 11-1.

WHAT'S AT STAKE?

While the rest of the Power Five conference title games have playoff implications, the Pac-12 game has a more traditional prize with the winner getting a berth in Rose Bowl. The Utes have never played in the Rose Bowl, while the Huskies were last there following the 2000 season.

KEY MATCHUP

Utes run D vs. Huskies RB Myles Gaskin. Utah brings the Pac-12's top run defense into the game but will have its hands full with Gaskin, who ran for 143 yards in the first meeting between the teams and is the third-leading rusher in Pac-12 history. Gaskin was banged up in a loss to Oregon and missed a loss at California. The Huskies' only loss with a healthy Gaskin was in the opener against Auburn.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Utah: QB Jason Shelley. Shelley is 3-0 as the starter after Tyler Huntley was sidelined with an injury. Shelley has completed 54 of 96 passes for 723 yards this season and has not committed a turnover in his three starts.

Washington: LB Ben Burr-Kirven. The Huskies top linebacker has double-digit tackles in 10 of 12 games this season and is the leader of the Pac-12's No. 1 ranked defense. Burr-Kirven's 155 total tackles are tied for the most in the nation and the second most for a Washington player since 1989.

FACTS & FIGURES

Utah makes first appearance in Pac-12 title game. ... Washington won its only previous trip to the title game over Colorado in 2016. ... Washington won first meeting 21-7 at Utah in September. ... Huskies are playing same team twice in a season for first time since 2010 against Nebraska. The Utes last did it in 1945 vs. Denver. ... Utah K Matt Gay has made 21 straight FG tries. ... Utes LB Chase Hansen leads the Pac-12 with 22 tackles for loss. ... Washington QB Jake Browning's 38 wins as a starter are the most for a QB in Pac-12 history. ... The Huskies are 18-1 the past three seasons when they have a runner reach 100 yards rushing.

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