It's hard to overstate the significance of Washington's momentous 37-34 win on the road over then-No. 6 Oregon last week.

It was the strongest statement yet of the Huskies' trajectory under coach Kalen DeBoer, and it changes the complexion of this whole season, really.

Now at 8-2 overall, 5-2 in the Pac-12 and No. 17 in the CFP rankings, the Huskies have a real shot at a 10-plus win season and a whole lot of momentum to sell on the recruiting trail. (They also have a backdoor chance at the Pac-12 championship game, though that would require a lot of help at this point).

The win Saturday also boosted quarterback Michael Penix Jr.'s case for major postseason accolades.

As Huskies fans continue to bask in the glow of that victory, our Tajwar Khandaker broke down the film and his five most significant takeaways from the win.

Michael Penix has been fantastic for the Huskies all season, ranking near the top of most statistical categories as a passer to lead the team to a 7-2 record heading into this pivotal matchup with Oregon. Despite Penix’s brilliance, he hadn’t yet had a true signature game to show his ability to step up under the brightest lights. Against the No. 6 Ducks with a shot at the Pac-12 championship on the line, Penix delivered, mounting a confident, capable and clutch performance to take his team over the top for the upset while passing for 408 yards, 2 touchdowns and 1 interception.

All night, Penix was locked in, throwing the football on time and on the money. His composure in the pocket was palpable -- Penix hardly looked deterred by anything the Oregon pass rush or secondary threw at him, routinely making the right reads and firing the ball with confidence. That confidence maintained the flow of Washington’s offense throughout the night, as Penix’s trust in his arm and his decision-making allowed him to repeatedly throw the ball on early downs, moving the sticks quickly and efficiently to compensate for the run game. His accuracy was on point in this game as he showed the capability to place the football perfectly on a variety of throws, from darts into tight windows to perfectly-lofted deep balls down the field. Oregon’s talented but inconsistent secondary wasn’t good enough to hold him back, as Penix found ways to identify and attack their weaknesses all across the field.

As well as things had gone for most of the contest, a costly mistake by Penix at the goal line threatened to dash the Huskies’ hopes of an upset early in the fourth quarter. With the game still neck-and-neck, the quarterback made a terrible throw as he searched for a touchdown, instead allowing it to be picked off and giving the Ducks a chance to ice the game. Penix could have easily folded at that point as many a quarterback would have, but he was a man on a mission for the remainder of the game. The veteran quarterback came back out more composed and more aggressive than before with the ball in his hands, firing the football with almost arrogant certainty into tight windows to take the Huskies down the field for multiple scoring drives. He made perhaps the play of the game on a late third-and-7, boldly firing into the sideline-hole of Oregon’s Cover-2 defense and shooting the football right past the closing Oregon safety into the hands of Taj Davis. Davis secured the football and burst down the field for a 62-yard touchdown, tying the game and giving the Huskies a shot to go win it. Penix was once again nails on the final drive of the game for Washington, leading the team down the field to secure the game winning field goal.

Altogether it was a sensational performance for Penix, who looked like the best player on the field for much of the night despite the bevy of NFL-bound Oregon defenders across from him, completing 26 of 35 passes. In a duel with potential Heisman contender, Bo Nix, Penix came out the winner with another masterful performance in a season full of them. He might not be getting the appropriate national hype, but make no mistake; Penix is one of the five best quarterbacks in college football right now, period.

Washington’s offensive line had a very impressive showing on Saturday, giving up no sacks and just 2 tackles for loss. Though Oregon’s pass rush isn’t particularly fearsome, the Husky front largely stonewalled them throughout the night. Penix routinely had clean pockets to work from, with clear lanes to step up into and escape through on the rare occasions that penetration was forced. Washington didn’t do a ton of damage in the run game but it largely ran it well when needed, thanks in large part to the work done by the offensive line. The unit did a great job of fooling the Oregon rush by feigning pass-blocks on a handful of rushing snaps, allowing for the creation of big lanes for Wayne Taulapapa. Washington finished with only 22 carries for a healthy 114 yards and 2 touchdowns, averaging just over 5 yards per carry. Though it struggled at times in short-yardage situations, its strength up front allowed them to convert on a handful of third-and-shorts and goal-line situations. This group has played at a high level all year, and their performance against a talented Oregon defense should give them more of the recognition they’ve long deserved.