Despite being 12-0 and one of just four unbeaten teams left in the country and despite that perfect regular-season run including a win over this very Oregon team, No. 3-ranked Washington takes the field Friday night tabbed as a 9.5-point underdog to the No. 5 Ducks.
Huskies coach Kalen DeBoer said that can only help his squad.
"I don't think our guys will get too caught up in that. If they do, it would only be to benefit us," he said. "Our guys are confident in who we are. ... We've felt since Day 1 that we can beat any team in the country -- It's a respect all and fear none attitude that we've had since Day 1."
And since Day 1 -- really since the end of last season when star quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and other key veterans made the decision to return for one more year -- this has been the goal.
The Pac-12 championship game with a ticket to the College Football Playoff waiting to be claimed.
Washington and Oregon kickoff at 5 p.m. PT Friday night (on ABC) at Allegiant Field in Las Vegas in the final game ever for the Pac-12 conference as it presently exists.
"We're excited about this challenge. This is what we worked for since Jan. 3 when we had our first team meeting, guys deciding to come back and it was to win a championship," DeBoer said. "You don't talk a lot about it once you get into the season because you're just focused on the next game -- the next game is the most important -- and now we get to focus on the next game and that next game is the championship game that we've had our sights set on since Day 1."
It was mid-October when the Huskies pulled out a 36-33 win over Oregon in final seconds in Seattle, when Ducks kicker Camden Lewis missed a potential game-tying 43-yard field goal in the final seconds.
All that seemed to do was ignite a more aggressive fire under the Ducks, who have been downright dominant since then -- winning their final six games by an average margin of 26 points.
Oregon is the No. 2-ranked scoring offense in the country (45.3 points per game) and the No. 7 scoring defense (15.9 PPG).
Washington, meanwhile, had some close calls down the stretch, including a 22-20 win over Oregon State and a 24-21 win over Washington State to close out the regular season.
That's why, despite the outcome of the teams' first meeting, the Ducks are the heavy favorites in Las Vegas.
"We know that every game's its own game and we've got to be our best on Friday night. ... We will be ready and we'll bring our best," DeBoer said.
"I think [Oregon has] been just very consistent. That's the key. They're a very good football team. Since then, they've had their backs to the wall as far as making sure that they get into the conference championship, so with that comes an urgency and I think you see that through their play. That happens because every day in practice they've got a little more determination to have this opportunity that they have."
Washington, meanwhile, has had its purpose clear in mind this whole journey.
This is just the second 12-0 team in program history along with the 1991 team that split the national championship with Miami.
These Huskies will still have to win three more games if they want to win it all, but they've already earned their place in program lore.
"That team, it's been really cool since Day 1 being here to understand the makeup of that team and the individuals -- I haven't met all of them but many -- and it's a special group and team that took the field that season. There was buildup very similar to what we've had this year from a season ago. We've related to that well. We've really embraced what that team did and how special it was in the early 90s," DeBoer said.
"... You don't know what you're going to get to, but man, it's awesome seeing the memories that those guys created and we appreciate the foundation that they set, not just that team but so many other teams here at UW to make it to where it's an expectation here."
