Thirty-two female student athletes from the University of Oregon filed a Title IX lawsuit Friday morning in federal court, alleging that Oregon’s athletic department is out of compliance with the federal law that bans sex discrimination in education.

The suit alleges that Oregon does not fulfill any of the three ‘prongs’ — participation proportional to enrollment; expansion of opportunities; accommodating existing interest — used to determine Title IX compliance. Specifically, the lawsuit says, the university’s athletic department is guilty of ‘depriving women of equal treatment and benefits, equal athletic aid, and equal opportunities to participate in varsity intercollegiate athletics,’ according to a press release from Bailey Glasser LLP, the legal firm where well-known Title IX attorney Arthur Bryant works.

The Ducks, whose athletic department is largely funded by Nike co-founder and billionaire Phil Knight, are a major player in college sports. Oregon boasts top women’s teams in volleyball, track and field and softball, and the Eugene campus is home to some of the most dazzling facilities in the nation. Oregon announced in July that it would join the Big Ten, ultimately leading to the collapse of the Pac-12.

Bryant is the lead counsel for the women, a group comprised of 26 beach volleyball players and six club rowing team members. The suit is a result of a July investigation by The Oregonian that revealed numerous instances of what Bryant called ‘blatant’ sex-based discrimination. He told USA TODAY Sports he was ‘stunned’ to learn how UO treats its women athletes. 

‘The University of Oregon is one of the top schools in the country in terms of intercollegiate athletics and money,’ Bryant said. ‘They have this reputation for being truly outstanding — and I always believed the reputation. So I was stunned when I read the article, and I was even more stunned when the university’s lawyers were utterly dismissive (of the athletes’ complaints). They didn’t take it seriously, they denied there were any problems — although they didn’t deny the facts — and they refused to take any action to fix it. 

“The University of Oregon made it absolutely essential for these women to file suit.”

A 2022 USA TODAY investigation found that 50 years after Congress passed Title IX, dozens of schools across the country, including at some of the biggest and most successful athletic departments, appear to remain in violation of the federal law. Often, there is little to no consequence for schools out of compliance with the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights and most substantive punishments come as the result of civil litigation.

Florida State announced in October it was adding women’s lacrosse as a varsity sport after Bryant threatened legal action in the wake of a USA TODAY investigation showing the school was not in compliance with Title IX. The University of Kentucky is currently awaiting a ruling from a federal judge in a lawsuit filed by female athletes who said the school has not created enough opportunities for them. The lead counsel in the Kentucky lawsuit, Lori Bullock, is also with Bailey Glasser, the firm handling the Oregon case.

The decision to file the suit against Oregon came after Bryant’s meeting with the university lawyers didn’t get any results.

‘Our interactions with Oregon up to now have given us and our clients no reason whatsoever to be optimistic about settling,’ Bryant told USA TODAY Sports. ‘But we are entirely optimistic that we’re going to win in court.’

In perhaps the most glaring example of non-compliance, the beach volleyball team — which Oregon added as a varsity sport almost a decade ago, in 2014 — does not have its own facility and is forced to practice at a public park. Often times, the restrooms at that park are locked because of drug usage issues. 

‘Based on the way the beach volleyball team has been treated, female athletes at Oregon do not need much food or water, good or clean clothes or uniforms, scholarships, medical treatment or mental health services, their own facilities, a locker room, proper transportation, or other basic necessities,’ said beach volleyball captain and lead plaintiff Ashley Schroeder, a senior at Oregon, in the press release. ‘This week, we could not practice because, sadly and disturbingly, someone died near the public courts we have to use in Amazon Park … But the men’s teams have full scholarships, multi-million-dollar budgets, and professional-level, state-of-the-art facilities.” 

It’s not lost on Bryant that the lawsuit is being filed the same day the Ducks are set to play in the Pac-12 championship game against Washington with a College Football Playoff berth on the line. 

“If you ever needed proof of what you can accomplish when you treat a team well and invest in them, as opposed to what they’re doing with women’s teams, well, it couldn’t be more clear,” he said. 

In a statement Friday afternoon, the University of Oregon said it is ‘committed to providing a quality, positive experience for all our student-athletes. UO Athletics provides all student-athletes, including our female athletes, with academic support, tutoring, student-athlete development, medical care, mental health support, meals and snacks, and nutrition and sports training. With the modernization of NCAA rules in recent years, we are also proud that we have been able to provide student-athletes with the maximum academic benefit allowed within the restrictions of the Alston decision, in addition to these other benefits. 

‘For beach volleyball, in addition to all other benefits, UO has already previously committed to increasing scholarships and to building a beach volleyball facility on campus at a site identified via the Campus Planning process. This site planning process began in 2019 and the project is now in the development phase.

‘The University believes it complies with Title IX. UO has not yet been served a copy of the complaint, and therefore we are unable to comment on any further specifics.’

Follow Lindsay Schnell on social media: @Lindsay_Schnell

At 2-9, it’s no secret that the New England Patriots are quite bad this season.

But safety Jabrill Peppers caught flak when he dapped up New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley and said ‘You lucky we ass, bro’ after the Patriots’ 10-7 loss on Sunday.

‘I just want to apologize to my teammates and the coaches for even having to answer questions about that,’ he said. ‘We’ve got more important things to worry about than me being caught on the hot mic.

‘It’s frustrating, just like it’s frustrating for all the guys. I’m a professional, so things like that should never happen. No need to blame anyone but myself. It’s my seventh year in the league, I’m 28 years old. I know better.’

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The former Michigan defender took accountability for his role in New England’s poor play and said that no one on the team is happy with their performance this season.

‘We all know the standard, we all know what it’s supposed to look like and it’s not that right now,’ he said. ‘It’s not no shot at anybody in the locker room. I said ‘we.’ We own that. I own that. We have good players, great players in our locker room, but every team has great players. There’s great parity across the league and if those great or good players aren’t executing, then that team isn’t a good team.’

Peppers acknowledged the coaching staff is doing its best to game plan for the team and expressed confidence in six-time Super Bowl champion head coach Bill Belichick. The head coach got his 300th career win in a Week 7 upset of the Buffalo Bills.

‘We got one of the best coaches to ever coach and he comes in week after week, tells us what we have to do to win this game, who we have to stop, how we have to go about business,’ Peppers said, ‘and time and time again, week after week, it comes up in the game exactly how he said it and we don’t capitalize on our opportunities.’

EVANSTON, Ill. — After never having beaten a No. 1 team in program history, Northwestern now has done so two years in a row at the expense of Purdue men’s basketball at Welsh-Ryan Arena.

Ty Berry’s two free throws with 6.1 seconds left were the final points in Northwestern’s 92-88 overtime victory.

After Boo Buie’s runner with three seconds left in regulation put Northwestern up two, the Boilermakers responded.

Mason Gillis lobbed the inbounds pass in from the sideline with 2.7 seconds left and Zach Edey laid it in to force overtime.

Purdue led 40-30 with two minutes to go in the first half, but couldn’t muster any offense outside of Edey.

Northwestern went on an 18-7 run, supported by two conventional three-point plays from Buie in a span of 1:13 that put the Wildcats in front.

Purdue’s response came in the form of sophomore point guard Braden Smith, who got to the basket on three straight offensive possessions, once finding Edey for a dunk and the other two times laying it in himself.

Both sides took turns playing punch-counter punch all the way down to the final seconds of regulation and early parts of overtime.

Northwestern caught fire from 3 to sway momentum, getting big shots from Berry, Ryan Langborg and Luke Hunger down the stretch while Purdue’s offense mostly came from the free throw line.

Three missed free throws by Purdue’s Trey Kaufman-Renn in a span of 1:04 kept Purdue from being able to take advantage. Edey missed the second of two foul shots with 4:27 to go and Hunger was fouled on the rebound. Hunger made 1 of 2 free throws that put Northwestern up 70-67.

It was over when

Purdue turned the ball over four times in a span of five offensive possessions in the waning moments of overtime.

Buie made a jumper with 1:30 to go in overtime that put the Wildcats up 87-84. Brooks Barnhizer’s free throw with 25.2 seconds left gave Northwestern an 88-86 lead and Buie made two more from the foul line to put the Wildcats up four.

Buie’s two free throws with 13.9 seconds left all but sealed the game.

4 stars

Zach Edey, Purdue: The Boiler big man had a few struggles but imposed his will when Purdue couldn’t get baskets from anyone else. The numbers are pretty much what has become standard for Edey the past two seasons: 35 points, 14 rebounds, three blocks.

Boo Buie, Northwestern: He’s the most unguardable player in the Big Ten not named Zach Edey. Buie’s speed was an issue for the Boilermaker defense, all the way down to the last seconds of regulation and overtime. Buie had 31 points and nine assists.

Braden Smith, Purdue: Smith had an off shooting night, but still finished with 12 points, nine assists and seven rebounds.

Ryan Langborg, Northwestern: Langborg missed two free throws that could’ve extended Northwestern’s lead to five. Still, he was 4 for 5 from 3 and had 20 points, which seemed more valuable than Ty Berry’s 21.

Purdue vs Northwestern highlights

Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on Twitter and Instagram @samueltking.

Veteran quarterback Joe Flacco is set to make his 2023 season debut.

The Cleveland Browns are planning to start Flacco in Sunday’s Week 13 game against the Los Angeles Rams, the team told reporters Friday. Sunday will mark Flacco’s first start since Week 18 of last season when he was a member of the New York Jets. Flacco entered this year as a free agent but signed with the Browns in November following Deshaun Watson’s season-ending shoulder injury. Flacco will be the Browns’ fourth different starting quarterback this season.

Watson is out for the year and rookie QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson is in concussion protocol after he was concussed during Week 12’s loss to the Denver Broncos.

Those injuries elevated Flacco to the team’s starting role and P.J. Walker is slated to be the backup quarterback.

NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.

‘I love playing this game, and anytime an opportunity kind of presents itself, you’ve just got to be patient and see what’s in store for you and that’s what I’m doing right now,’ Flacco told reporters this week. ‘It’s definitely exciting.’

The 38-year-old has become a journeyman quarterback since his days with the Baltimore Ravens. Flacco spent 11 seasons in Baltimore. He was named MVP of Super Bowl 47 after he helped the Ravens beat the San Francisco 49ers in 2013. In 2019, the Ravens traded Flacco to the Denver Broncos, with whom he spent one year before signing with the Jets. He was with the Jets in 2020 then briefly signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2021 before being traded back to New York. He started five games with the Jets the past two seasons.

Flacco has 42,320 passing yards, 232 touchdowns and 147 interceptions in 183 career regular-season games. He has a 99-81 career record as a starter.

Follow USA TODAY Sports’ Tyler Dragon on X @TheTylerDragon.

WASHINGTON — Former U.S. swimmer and Olympic gold medalist Klete Keller was sentenced to 36 months of probation Friday, avoiding jail time for his participation in the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

The sentence also includes six months of home confinement and 360 hours of community service.

A three-time Olympian who won five medals, Keller is among the most high-profile people to be sentenced in connection with the Jan. 6 insurrection, which has resulted in more than 1,000 criminal cases. Law enforcement officers were able to identify Keller on security footage thanks at least in part to the blue Team USA jacket that he wore when entering the Capitol.

Keller’s attorney, Zachary Deubler, told reporters that his client would have no comment as they left the courtroom but ‘he’s very happy.’

Under federal sentencing guidelines, Keller was facing up to 21 months in prison. But prosecutors had asked that he be sentenced to just 10 months, because of the cooperation and assistance he’s provided with other cases after reaching a plea agreement in 2021.

Instead, U.S. District Court judge Richard Leon decided against any jail time, while requiring only six months of home confinement, during which Keller will be permitted to only travel from home to his place of work or other approved locations. The judge described the case as ‘one of the most unique’ and ‘maybe the most unique’ criminal cases stemming from Jan. 6, explaining that he believed the former Olympian could best help society in the coming years by using his platform to speak publicly about his mistakes and remorse.

‘I expect you to succeed,’ the judge told Keller.

‘I will not let you down,’ the 41-year-old replied.

Keller’s sentencing comes more than two years after he agreed to plead guilty to one felony count of obstruction of an official proceeding and pledged to cooperate with authorities, in exchange for the dismissal of the six other charges that had been filed against him, which included civil disorder and entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, among others.

In a sentencing memorandum, prosecutors credited Keller for his ‘genuine remorse’ about unlawfully entering the Capitol. But they also argued that he still deserved jail time given the severity of the incident, and his initial attempts to obstruct his presence in the Jan. 6 riot: He admitted to authorities that he threw his Team USA jacket in the trash and smashed his cell phone with a hammer in the days following the insurrection.

‘A former Olympian with an opportunity to see up close America’s ideals and represent its position in the world, Keller was in a unique position to know better,’ prosecutors wrote in their sentencing memo.

A freestyle specialist, Keller swam for Team USA at three editions of the Summer Olympics, from 2000 to 2008. He won three individual medals − a silver and bronze at the 2000 Sydney Games, and another bronze in Athens in 2004 − as well as two relay golds. He swam the anchor leg on the 4x200m freestyle relay team that won gold in memorable fashion in 2004 − a team that also included Michael Phelps and Ryan Lochte.

After retiring from swimming, Keller dealt with a string of personal hardships. He wrote in a pre-sentencing letter to Leon that he got divorced, lost a job and at one point spent 10 months sleeping in his car while building decks for a construction company. A subsequent child custody fight left him angry and coping with ‘a profound sense of injustice which I struggled to move past,’ he added.

According to prosecutors, Keller enter the Capitol through a door on the west terrace at 2:39 p.m., with his face concealed by sunglasses and a bandana and his cell phone in hand. He photographed and recorded the chaos, according to prosecutors, and started chants of ‘[Expletive] Nancy Pelosi!’ and ‘[Expletive] Chuck Schumer!’ At another point, he joined nearby rioters in singing the national anthem.

All told, Keller spent a little less than an hour inside the Capitol, according to security footage.

On a metro ride after leaving the riot, Keller later told prosecutors that a young boy saw his Team USA jacket and asked him for a picture. Keller said he immediately felt overwhelming shame and disappointment, knowing that ‘the moment that this young man and father [found] out what he did, their admiration for him would be shattered.’ He was charged a little more than a week later.

‘As a former member of the United States Olympic Swimming Team, my behavior set a terrible example for young people who looked up to me,’ Keller wrote in his letter to Leon.

‘I take full responsibility for my inexcusable actions. I will accept my punishment with humility and serve my sentence in peace.’

Deubler argued that his client did not deserve jail time because, among other reasons, he did not incite or participate in violence and spent less than an hour inside the Capitol. He also noted that Keller has effectively been on probation for two-plus years while his case has been pending, and he must now live as a convicted felon for the remainder of his life.

Even while seeking jail time, prosecutor Troy Edwards acknowledged during the sentencing hearing that Keller has been ‘one of, if not the, most remorseful’ Jan. 6 defendants that he has encountered.

‘I have no excuse for why I’m in front of you today,’ Keller later told the judge, while apologizing to law enforcement, lawmakers, first responders and the friends and family members he had embarrassed with his actions.

‘I deeply regret and I will not repeat the mistakes of my past.’

Leon stressed the importance of Keller sharing this message as one of the key aspects of his sentence. He noted that the community service requirement works out to 10 hours per month for three years. Leon said he wants Keller’s efforts to be spent ‘out in the community’ speaking to teenagers, college students or others who could listen and learn from his mistakes.

‘I think that’s a more valuable way of using your time,’ Leon said, ‘(rather) than to have you sit in some jail cell.’

Contact Tom Schad at tschad@usatoday.com or on social media @Tom_Schad.

The price of a starting quarterback is going up, up, up.

This week, Nebraska coach Matt Rhule said the price for a Power Five-caliber starting quarterback is ‘$1 million to $1.5 million to $2 million right now.’ That’s for a transfer class that is currently deep in experience but devoid of a transcendent passer.

But programs in the Bowl Subdivision will pay the cost, and sometimes the investment will pay off. Bo Nix and Jayden Daniels were not seen as game-changing transfers when they joined Oregon and LSU, respectively, and the pair head into Saturday as the overwhelming favorites to win the Heisman Trophy. Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. is a third former transfer in the mix for postseason hardware.

Coaches are looking at three different types of quarterbacks: one-year rentals looking to cash in a final year of eligibility, plug-and-play starters with more than one season on campus, and high-ceiling but inexperienced players who transfer as redshirt freshmen or sophomores.

Players will be given about one month after the transfer portal officially opens on Dec. 4 to choose a new program.

These are the best quarterbacks currently available:

Cam Ward (Washington State)

Ward could also enter the NFL draft, though he’s more likely to stay in college and become the most desired transfer quarterback on the market. The former Championship Subdivision transfer accounted for 61 combined touchdowns in his two seasons at Washington State and was much improved as a passer this past year, indicating not just a high floor of production but the chance to tap into something greater in his final season. Based on who’s currently in the portal, Ward will have dozens of suitors and will be able to pick his next stop.

DJ Uiagalelei (Oregon State)

Uiagalelei really cleaned up his game and threw the ball with more confidence during his one season under Jonathan Smith at Oregon State. After averaging 6.8 yards per attempt at Clemson in 2022, he bumped that average to 8.4 yards this past season with 21 touchdowns against seven interceptions and another six scores on the ground. Uiagalelei is never going to be the quarterback who set college football afire during a brief stint in the lineup as a true freshman in 2020, but he’s become a steady and reliable Power Five starter who would represent an upgrade for more programs than not. Based off his connection to Smith, he could land at Michigan State, which badly needs a quarterback. But look for Uiagalelei to draw attention from every Power Five league, especially the SEC.

Will Howard (Kansas State)

After an ugly start to his career upon being thrust into the lineup as a freshman, Howard developed into one of the most prolific and accomplished passers in Kansas State history. But the writing is on the wall: Avery Johnson is ready to take over as the Wildcats’ starter, making this a good time for Howard to hit the open market. As a veteran starter with a proven track record and noticeable year-to-year improvement, Howard should draw interest from some of the biggest programs in the country. Though his biggest suitors should come from traditional members of the Big Ten, Howard will draw interest from Notre Dame and Big Ten newcomers Oregon, Washington, UCLA and Southern California.

Dante Moore (UCLA)

Moore would fall more on the development end of the transfer pool, even if he was the Bruins’ primary starter as a true freshman. While this experience will pay off down the road, Moore’s performance indicated a quarterback who could’ve used a full year in a reserve or limited role before being promoted into the starting lineup. But programs will look past the hit-or-miss game tape and see a former five-star prospect with the physical gifts to make every throw and at least three additional years of eligibility. That will make Moore a hot commodity.

Riley Leonard (Duke)

Leonard burst onto the national scene amid Duke’s hot start. But this was basically a lost season given his injuries, his ineffectiveness as a passer when healthy and the Blue Devils’ swoon after September. This could make him a divisive prospect: Leonard has the tools to succeed in an offense that values his athleticism but has to develop more accuracy and reliability as a thrower to be a truly difference-making addition. Having said that, teams are going to be drawn to his frame, athletic ability and potential.

Grayson McCall (Coastal Carolina)

McCall’s stock was way higher a year ago, when he decided to return to Coastal Carolina instead of transfer into the Power Five or follow former coach Jamey Chadwell to Liberty. His numbers took a big step back amid an injury-hampered year under first-year coach Tim Beck: McCall had 10 touchdowns and six interceptions in seven games, though four of those turnovers came in one game and he still managed to complete 67.4% of his attempts and average 8.6 yards per throw. There’s a feeling that McCall’s skill set is limited compared to some of the Power Five transfers on the table, which should scare off the elite programs in the mix for a quarterback. But he’s very experienced, hugely productive and good enough to start and play well in the Power Five.

Drew Pyne (Arizona State)

This will be Pyne’s second transfer, following his previous departure from Notre Dame to Arizona State. Injuries cost him all but two games and one start in 2023, and with younger talent on the Sun Devils’ depth chart he did not figure into the program’s plans moving forward. But two things he’s done since joining Notre Dame as a four-star recruit is win games against elite competition and avoid turnovers: Pyne went 8-2 overall and 4-1 against ranked teams with the Irish, and tossed 22 touchdowns and just six interceptions as the starter in 2022.

Tyler Van Dyke (Miami)

All Van Dyke could need is a change of scenery. He was a revelation as a redshirt freshman in 2021, tossing at least three touchdowns in each of his final six starts and 25 overall against six interceptions. While that made him a Heisman contender heading into 2022, his career quickly fizzled: Van Dyke has 17 picks across the past two years and has looked uncomfortable and hesitant since coach Mario Cristobal arrived. There will plenty of coaching staffs that look at Van Dyke and see an impactful reclamation project, and they may be right.

Tyler Shough (Texas Tech)

First things first: Shough has to stay healthy. That he’s had multiple years stymied by injuries will scare off teams in the market for one transfer quarterback to step right in and grab the starting role. When on the field, though, Shough has the arm talent to succeed in a balanced offense and will be motivated to make the most of this last chance after struggling to get his career off the ground at Oregon and with the Red Raiders.

Max Brosmer (New Hampshire) and Matthew Sluka (Holy Cross)

These two Championship Subdivision standouts currently on the FBS radar will draw interest from the second tier of the Power Five and could land at a higher-end program based on how things play out with more established quarterbacks. While Sluka would be a very interesting fit in an offense that would value his dual-threat ability in the quarterback running game, Brosmer led the FCS in yards this past season and is purer passer of the two.

Caitlin Clark is more than the best passer in college basketball and a logo-shooting supernova: She’s about to become the best scorer in NCAA women’s basketball history, and maybe NCAA history. 

Clark, a senior All-American who led Iowa to the national championship game in April, is on pace to top Kelsey Plum’s scoring record (3,527), set in 2017. Perhaps more impressively, she could also top the men’s scoring record, set by Pete Maravich in 1970 (3,667 points), back before the 3-point line existed. 

Clark started the 2022-23 season with 2,717 career points, and through nine games she’s averaging 29.0 points per game. Given that she’s never averaged less than 26.6 per season, she’ll likely break Plum’s record toward the end of February (provided she stays healthy). Then again, this is a player who has a history of 40-point performances, so it could happen sooner. 

Should Clark return for a fifth year – because of COVID she has one extra season of eligibility if she wants it – she would undoubtedly shatter both records. 

How many points did Caitlin Clark score in Iowa’s last game?

vs. Bowling Green, Dec. 2: Clark scored 24 points in the Hawkeyes’ 99-65 victory. Clark added 11 assists, seven rebounds and three steals. Clark also extended her streak of hitting a 3-pointer in 67 consecutive games by going 2-for-11. That mark is the best in the NCAA.  

Points shy of breaking Plum’s record: 550

Points shy of breaking Maravich’s record: 690

How many career points does Caitlin Clark have?

Caitlin Clark has 2,978 career points (and counting!) after her 24-point performance against Bowling Green.

Can Caitlin Clark break the scoring record?

Absolutely. The real question is, can Clark break both scoring records? Former Washington All-American Plum, now a WNBA All-Star with the Las Vegas Aces, holds the Division I women’s record with 3,527 points. Pete Maravich holds the Division I men’s record with 3,667. Depending on how deep Iowa plays into the postseason, both of those records are within reach for Clark.

What is Caitlin Clark’s highest-scoring game?

Clark’s highest-scoring game came early in the 2023-24 season, when she hung 44 points on Virginia Tech, another 2023 Final Four participant. Clark shot 13-for-31 that game, including 5-for-16 from 3. She also grabbed eight rebounds and handed out six assists in the 80-76 win.

How many points does Caitlin Clark average per game?

Through nine games in the 2023-24 season, Clark is averaging 29.0 points. Over her career, she’s averaged 27.3 points.

One of the most impressive parts of Clark’s game is that she’s averaged more points each season. Here’s how it breaks down:

Freshman year: 26.6 pointsSophomore year: 27.0 pointsJunior year: 27.8 pointsSenior year: 29.0 points

Caitlin Clark game-by-game points in 2023-24

Here’s a breakdown of Clark’s scoring this season for the Hawkeyes:

vs. Bowling Green, 12/2/2023: 24 pointsvs. Kansas State, 11/26/2023: 32 pointsvs. Florida Gulf Coast, 11/25/2023: 21 pointsvs. Purdue Fort Wayne, 11/24/2023: 29 pointsvs. Drake, 11/19/2023: 35 pointsvs. Kansas State, 11/16/2023: 24 pointsat UNI, 11/12/2023: 24 pointsvs. Virginia Tech, 11/9/2023: 44 pointsvs. FDU, 11/6/2023: 28 points

When does Caitlin Clark, Iowa women’s basketball play again?

Clark will be back in action when the Hawkeyes visit Iowa State on Wednesday, Dec. 6.

Follow Lindsay Schnell on social media @Lindsay_Schnell

One team is already locked into the College Football Playoff.

Washington capped an undefeated regular season with a thrilling 34-31 win against Oregon in the Pac-12 championship game and is guaranteed to finish somewhere in the top four of the final playoff rankings, depending on how things play out across the rest of the Power Five.

The second win on the season against the Ducks is the ultimate response to doubters who dismissed the Huskies’ chances in this game and place among the elite teams in the Bowl Subdivision.

In case it wasn’t clear: Washington is a deserving playoff team and a dangerous matchup for any team in the semifinals.

Quarterback Michael Penix completed 27 of 39 attempts for 319 yards and a touchdown and keyed two enormous touchdown drives in the fourth quarter to reverse Oregon’s 24-20 lead. Washington led 20-3 in the second quarter but was in danger of letting the Pac-12 championship slip away before the offense reasserted itself against the Ducks’ worn-down defense.

All that’s left to decide is where the Huskies fall in the final rankings, which depends on how things play out in the SEC championship game between Georgia and Alabama along with the Big Ten championship between Michigan and Iowa. Regardless, Washington will become the first Pac-12 team to reach the playoff since the Huskies did so under former coach Chris Petersen in 2016.

Also on Friday, Liberty beat New Mexico State 49-35 to capture the Conference USA championship. The Flames are one of only a small handful of unbeaten teams in the Bowl Subdivision and a contender for the Group of Five’s bid to the New Year’s Six, but there’s a roadblock of teams in their way, as we’ll see.

What Washington’s win means for the playoff

Washington has completed a perfect regular season in one of the top leagues in the FBS and can sit back and wait to see how the rest of the Power Five landscape unfolds during Saturday’s games.

The only question is where the Huskies will land: whether as high as No. 1 or as low as No. 3. There is no chance Washington falls to No. 4 with a second win against the Ducks.

Getting to No. 1 requires two upsets: Alabama over Georgia and Iowa over Michigan. The Huskies will probably stick at No. 3 should both favorites win, though beating Oregon twice could be enough for the committee to push them above the Wolverines.

Then it’s a question of matchups. The most likely is opposite Michigan as the second or third seed in the Rose Bowl, the earlier of the two semifinals on New Year’s Day.

Should Michigan lose and Florida State win, the Huskies would rise to No. 2 and take on the Seminoles. In the scenario where the Tide, Hawkeyes and Seminoles win to bump UW to No. 1, the matchup would come against Texas, Georgia or Michigan.

Michael Penix and the Heisman Trophy

Penix was the Heisman front-runner for a good chunk of the regular season before losing his grip in November, and went into Friday night third in the pecking order behind Oregon QB Bo Nix and LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels. The win should change things.

But maybe not enough. Penix was very solid in the first half but less so in the second, and he probably would’ve needed a more complete, eye-opening sort of game to make up ground he’d ceded to Nix and Daniels.

The good news is that Heisman voters probably can’t vote for Nix over Penix, given the Huskies’ two head-to-head wins this season. That’s if many voters hadn’t already sent in their ballots in advance of the weekend, which is always a possibility.

The bad news for Penix is that Daniels isn’t going anywhere. For those torn between Nix and Daniels, Friday’s result might not mean a switched vote to Penix but an embrace of the LSU senior as the obvious Heisman pick.

Can Washington win the national championship?

Any team that can beat Oregon once, let alone twice, is good enough to beat any opponent on a neutral field and win the national championship.

This second win erases the idea that the earlier victory at home was the result of coaching decisions on Dan Lanning’s part or catching the Ducks on an off day. Washington was the more aggressive team and was very effective at the point of attack, offsetting the misguided belief that Oregon would be the more physical team on the line of scrimmage.

Overall, this performance should open some eyes. Far more than just a borderline upset — Oregon was more than a touchdown favorite despite the previous loss — the win should lead to a reevaluation of the Huskies’ chances against opponents such as Georgia, Michigan or Texas.

Let’s wait to see who Washington draws in the semifinals and, if they’re fortunate, the championship game. But there’s no doubt the Huskies have the offense, quarterback, coaching staff and mindset to shine on college football’s biggest stage against some of the biggest brands in the sport.

Is Liberty going to make a New Year’s Six bowl?

The odds are slim even after the win against New Mexico State. While beating the Aggies will help boost Liberty’s reputation with the selection committee, the Flames are still looking up at the winner of the American, especially if Tulane beats SMU in the conference championship game.

While SMU was not in the latest playoff rankings, the Mustangs are expected to move ahead of Liberty should they beat the Green Wave.

Basically, the Flames did all they could do during the regular season and will still come up short of the New Year’s Six. That’s not due to bias or lack of deep thinking on the part of the committee but a reflection on Liberty’s extremely weak schedule.

The Flames did not play a Power Five opponent and have six wins against bowl teams, two coming against the Aggies. Outside of NMSU, the team’s best win is either Jacksonville State or Bowling Green. That’s not nearly enough to justify coming in ahead of the AAC champion.