Utah Utes running back Zack Moss (2) celebrates his touchdown with Utah Utes quarterback Jason Shelley (15) in Seattle on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. Utah won 33-28. Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
Mike Sorensen
By Mike Sorensen

SEATTLE — Thanks to Oregon’s 56-24 victory over USC Saturday night, Utah’s path to the Pac-12 Championship Game has become much smoother.

Now the Utes hold their destiny in their own hands.

The Utes were rooting heavily for the Ducks to knock off the Trojans at the Coliseum, where the Utes couldn’t get it done six weeks ago.

Both the Utes and Trojans had entered the day with 4-1 records, but USC held the tiebreaker because of that September victory.

However Utah’s 33-28 victory over Washington moved it to 5-1 while the Trojans’ loss dropped them to 4-2, a game behind the Utes.

After Utah’s victory in Seattle, when it was suggested to Ute coach Kyle Whittingham that his team didn’t control its own destiny, he interjected: “For awhile.”

Perhaps he knew something was about to happen to USC.

Now all that Utah has to do is win its three remaining games against UCLA at home on Nov. 16, at Arizona on Nov. 23 and at home against Colorado Nov. 30, and it will be in the Dec. 6 championship game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara. The Utes have a bye this week.

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The Utes also kept their outside hopes of getting in the College Football Playoffs as it’s possible a one-loss Pac-12 champion could sneak into the four-team playoff. 

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Utah Utes running back Zack Moss (2) runs by the Washington Huskies in Seattle on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. Utah won 33-28. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Utes quarterback Tyler Huntley (1) greets the Ute fans after the game in Seattle on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. Utah won 33-28. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Utes defensive back Jaylon Johnson (1) scores on the pick-six against the Washington Huskies in Seattle on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. Utah won 33-28. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham calls the two-point conversion to be good after watching the replay in Seattle on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. Utah won 33-28. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Utes defensive tackle Leki Fotu (99) and the Utes sing the fight song in Seattle on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. Utah won 33-28. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Utes running back Zack Moss (2) scores against Washington Huskies defensive back Elijah Molden (3) in Seattle on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Utes defensive back Jaylon Johnson (1) breaks up a pass intended for Washington Huskies wide receiver Aaron Fuller (2) in Seattle on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Utes running back Zack Moss (2) is swarmed by the Washington Huskies defense in Seattle on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Utes running back Zack Moss (2) scores against the Washington Huskies in Seattle on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Washington Huskies defensive back Elijah Molden (3) knocks the ball away from Utah Utes wide receiver Samson Nacua (45) in Seattle on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Utes quarterback Tyler Huntley (1) shows against Washington Huskies linebacker Brandon Wellington (13) in Seattle on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Utes linebacker Francis Bernard (13) and defensive tackle Viane Moala (98) hurry Washington Huskies quarterback Jacob Eason (10) in Seattle on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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The Utah Utes try to block an extra point against the Washington Huskies in Seattle on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham protests a call in Seattle on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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New Orleans Saint and former Ute Marcus Williams watches the game in Seattle on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. Utah won 33-28. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Utes running back Zack Moss (2) runs by Washington Huskies linebacker Edefuan Ulofoshio (48) for a touchdown in Seattle on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. Utah won 33-28. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Utes place kicker Jadon Redding (97) kicks an extra point in Seattle on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. Utah won 33-28. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Utes running back Zack Moss (2) celebrates his touchdown with Utah Utes quarterback Jason Shelley (15) in Seattle on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. Utah won 33-28. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Utes wide receiver Samson Nacua (45) makes a big catch near the end of the game in Seattle on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. Utah won 33-28. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Utes wide receiver Demari Simpkins (3) just missed getting in to the end zone on a two-point conversion in Seattle on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. Utah won 33-28. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Utes defensive tackle John Penisini (52) hurries Washington Huskies quarterback Jacob Eason (10) in Seattle on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. Utah won 33-28. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Utes wide receiver Derrick Vickers (8) hangs his head after fumbling against the Washington Huskies in Seattle on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. Utah won 33-28. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Utes wide receiver Derrick Vickers (8) fumbles the ball under pressure from Washington Huskies defensive back Myles Bryant (5) in Seattle on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. Utah won 33-28. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Utes defensive end Bradlee Anae (6) defends Washington Huskies wide receiver Andre Baccellia (5) in Seattle on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. Utah won 33-28. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Utes defensive back Julian Blackmon (23) celebrates his interception with Utah Utes linebacker Devin Lloyd (20) in Seattle on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. Utah won 33-28. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Oli and Uila Mendoza cheer the Utes in Seattle on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. Utah won 33-28. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Tampa Bay Buccaneer and former Ute Matt Gay watches the Utes in Seattle on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. Utah won 33-28. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham pumps his fist after beating the Washington Huskies in Seattle on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. Utah won 33-28. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Utes wide receiver Samson Nacua (45) laughs on the sidelines in Seattle on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. Utah won 33-28. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah and Washington Huskies play in Seattle on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. Utah won 33-28. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Utes place kicker Jadon Redding (97) kicks a field goal in Seattle on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. Utah won 33-28. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Utes quarterback Tyler Huntley (1) runs against the Washington Huskies in Seattle on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. Utah won 33-28. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah players warm up prior to the game with the Washington Huskies at Husky Stadium in Seattle on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Fans wander prior to the game with the Washington Huskies at Husky Stadium in Seattle on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Utah Utes quarterback Tyler Huntley (1) warms up prior to the game with the Washington Huskies in Seattle on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Ron Mangone holds his grandson Jack as Ute fans tailgate prior to the game with the Washington Huskies in Seattle on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Olivia Schouten waves her pom poms as Ute fans tailgate prior to the game with the Washington Huskies in Seattle on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Husky Stadium in Seattle on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News
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Boats are anchored outside of Husky Stadium in Seattle on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2019. | Jeffrey D. Allred, Deseret News

The Utes should move up a spot in the football polls, which come out Sunday afternoon, after being ranked No. 9 in the AP poll and No. 10 in the coaches poll last week because No. 6 Florida lost to No. 8 Georgia on Saturday. The first College Football rankings come out on Tuesday.

Whittingham said his team isn’t getting ahead of itself and looking ahead to any championship game, bowl game or playoff game. 

“These guys are smart,” he said after Saturday’s win. “We talk big picture not at all. We take them one game at a time.”

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