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That was the game — the contest where Washington, the nation's No. 4 team and the last remaining College Football Playoff contender in the Pac-12, would trip.
No one plays Utah and gets an easy win — the Utes are too well-coached and there's far too much talent on that sideline.
And no one — absolutely no one — goes to Salt Lake City and doesn't get a hard-fought contest.
Utah might not necessarily be on Washington's level this season, but Saturday afternoon's matchup in Salt Lake City was the contest that would determine if Washington – which has looked like a juggernaut at times this season — is a national championship contender.
Washington was going to get punched in the mouth — that was a guarantee.
The Dawgs punched back.
They made the grade.
It was a game that, as expected, went down to the wire — two of the most scheme-disciplined squads in the nation doing battle. You're not going to find two better coaches in the nation on the same field, and both teams were representations of their leaders. This was not a game for style points.
Utah had the home-field advantage and chip-on-the-shoulder mentality. Washington had the top-flight talent and the expectations of greatness.
In games like that, it's the little things that win — things like special teams.
It was somewhat of a cruel punishment to Utah, perhaps the best special teams program in the nation, to lose 31-24 on Dante Pettis' 58-yard punt return, but it's also a testament to Washington's weapons:
John Ross, the electrifying wide receiver who missed last year with a knee injury, caught two touchdowns in the contest; quarterback Jake Browning wasn't perfect but continued to look the part of a cool, calm, collected signal caller; Myles Gaskin, perhaps the nation's most underrated player, ran for 151 yards and a score on 19 carries.
Concerns? Of course. Washington's run defense has been suspect this season and recent retiree Joe Williams was able to gain 172 yards, albeit on 35 carries. And the Huskies' pass rush wasn't as impressive as in games past – part of that was scheme but a lot of credit should go to Troy Williams, who despite a not-so-great stat line or offensive line, made things happen for the Utes with his feet and guile Saturday.
The overall point cannot be avoided, though — Washington's much-maligned schedule was building up for Saturday's game, and the Huskies came through. It wasn't necessarily pretty and it certainly wasn't their best effort of the year, but it was a road win in one of the toughest environments to win in the nation (it's not fun playing at altitude).
Washington will retain its Top-5 status as it heads into its final four games. Not a single one is a gimme, but a win in any won't prove much for the Huskies down the stretch. But Saturday's win at Utah did prove something — not every game is going to be easy, even if the Vegas line indicates it should be, but title-worthy teams win games anyway.
Saturday was a checkpoint for Washington, and there shouldn't have been any doubt. But if there was, let it be eliminated by the win: The Huskies have what it takes to play, and win, in the College Football Playoff.
