After clinching the Pac-12 South title with a win over No. 3 Oregon last Saturday, the Utah Utes are headed to the Pac-12 championship game for the third time in four years, but the North Division is still up for grabs.
It all comes down to Oregon vs. Oregon State.
With Washington State’s win over Washington on Friday, Utah will face either Oregon or Washington State in the Pac-12 championship.
Here are the scenarios for Oregon or WSU to win the North and face Utah in the conference championship game in Las Vegas on Dec. 3.
Oregon (9-2, 6-2 Pac-12)
Oregon’s path to the Pac-12 championship is simple. If the Ducks beat Oregon State at Autzen Stadium on Saturday (1:30 p.m. MST, ESPN), they are going to Las Vegas for a rematch with the Utes.
ESPN’s FPI gives the Ducks a 73.5% chance of beating the Beavers. Oregon is favored by seven points.
Washington State (7-5, 6-3 Pac-12)
After beating Washington on Friday, Washington State needs Oregon State to beat Oregon.
If that happens, Oregon, Oregon State and Washington State would all be tied for first place with conference records of 6-3, and the Cougars would go to the championship game thanks to a tiebreaker.
The first tiebreaker in three-team ties is head-to-head record against the other tied teams. In this scenario, after losing to Oregon State, Oregon would be 1-1 against Washington State and Oregon State.
Oregon State, after beating Oregon, would be 1-1 against Washington State and Oregon. Washington State is 1-1 against Oregon and Oregon State.
With each team 1-1 against the other, the next tiebreaker is record in division games.
Oregon would have a 3-2 record against North opponents, as it lost to Oregon State and Stanford.
Oregon State would have a 3-2 record after losing to Washington State and Cal.
Washington State would win the division because of a 4-1 record against Pac-12 North teams, with the Cougars’ only loss coming against Oregon.