2019 Pac-12 Football Championship Game
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox NCAA football yearly game
| game_name = Pac-12 Football Championship Game
| title_sponsor =
| subheader = Conference Championship
| image = 2019_Pac-12_Football_Championship_Game_logo.png
| caption =
| date_game_played = December 6
| year_game_played = 2019
| football_season = 2019
| stadium = Levi's Stadium
| city = Santa Clara, CA
| home_school = University of Oregon
| home_name_short = Oregon
| home_nickname = Ducks
| home_record = 10–2
| home_rank_AP = 13
| home_rank_CFP = 13
| home_rank_coaches = 13
| home_coach = Mario Cristobal
| home_1q = 10
| home_2q = 10
| home_3q = 3
| home_4q = 14
| visitor_school =
| visitor_name_short = Utah
| visitor_nickname = Utes
| visitor_record = 11–1
| visitor_rank_AP = 5
| visitor_rank_coaches = 5
| visitor_rank_CFP = 5
| visitor_coach = Kyle Whittingham
| visitor_1q = 0
| visitor_2q = 0
| visitor_3q = 15
| visitor_4q = 0
| MVP = C. J. Verdell{{cite web|url=https://kslsports.com/423878/trench-play-cost-utah-pac-12-championship/|title=Trench Play Cost Utah Pac-12 Championship|date=December 6, 2019|first=Trevor|last=Allen|website=KSL Sports}}
| anthem =
| referee = Steve Strimling
| halftime =
| attendance = 38,679
| us_network = ABC
ESPN Radio
| us_announcers = Chris Fowler (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (analyst), Molly McGrath (sideline) (ABC)
Sean Kelley (play-by-play), Barrett Jones (analyst), Ian Fitzsimmons (sideline) (ESPN Radio)
| ratings =
| intl_network =
| intl_announcers =
}}
{{2019 Pac-12 football standings}}
The 2019 Pac-12 Football Championship Game was a college football game played on Friday, December 6, 2019, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, to determine the 2019 champion of the Pac-12 Conference.{{cite web|url=https://pac-12.com/football/event/2019/12/06/pac-12-football-championship-game|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190829153445/https://pac-12.com/football/event/2019/12/06/pac-12-football-championship-game|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 29, 2019|title=Pac-12 Football Championship Game|publisher=Pac-12 Conference|access-date=August 29, 2019}} The game featured the North division champions Oregon and the South division champions Utah, and was the conference's ninth championship game. This game was the last to be held at Levi's Stadium before the game moves to Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas starting in 2020.{{cite news|last=Bolch|first=Ben|url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/story/2019-07-24/the-pac-12s-football-championship-game-is-headed-for-las-vegas|title=The Pac-12’s football championship game is headed for Las Vegas|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|date=July 24, 2019|accessdate=August 5, 2019}} With sponsorship by the 76 chain of gas stations, the game was officially called the 2019 Pac-12 Football Championship Game, presented by 76.{{cite web |url=https://pac-12.com/article/2019/12/03/pac-12-networks-site-levisr-stadium-pre-and-postgame-coverage-2019-pac-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191208035747/https://pac-12.com/article/2019/12/03/pac-12-networks-site-levisr-stadium-pre-and-postgame-coverage-2019-pac-12 |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 8, 2019 |title=Pac-12 Networks on site at Levi’s® Stadium for pre and postgame coverage of 2019 Pac-12 Football Championship Game, presented by 76, between No. 5 Utah and No. 13 Oregon |website=pac-12.com |date=December 3, 2019 |accessdate=December 7, 2019}} Oregon won the game and the conference title by a score of 37–15.
Previous season
The 2018 Pac-12 Football Championship Game featured North Division champion Washington against South Division champion Utah in the conference's 8th edition of the game. The Huskies won in the game's lowest total scoring, 10–3.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=401056704|title=No. 10 Washington beats No. 17 Utah 10-3 for Pac-12 title|date=November 30, 2018|website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press}}
Teams
The 2019 Pac–12 Football Championship Game was contested by the Oregon Ducks, North Division champions, and the Utah Utes, South Division Champions. Oregon and Utah had met 32 times previously before this game, with Oregon holding a 22–10 advantage in the series. The two teams did not meet during the 2019 regular season.
=Oregon=
Oregon clinched its spot in the Championship Game after its November 16 win over Arizona.{{cite web|url=https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/sports/college/univ-oregon/2019/11/16/live-updates-oregon-ducks-host-arizona-wildcats/4188781002/|title=Oregon Ducks clinch Pac-12 North, but how good is their case for the playoff?|first=Pete|last=Martini|date=November 16, 2019|newspaper=Statesman Journal}} This was Oregon's third overall appearance in the Championship Game, having won in their prior two appearances. This was Oregon's first appearance in the game since 2014, the year when the Ducks made their way into the first ever College Football Playoff and to the National Championship Game.{{Cite web|url=https://www.registerguard.com/sports/20191116/oregon-ducks-football-clinches-pac-12-north-division-with-win-over-arizona-wildcats/1|title=Oregon Ducks football clinches Pac-12 North Division with win over Arizona Wildcats|first=Ryan|last=Thorburn|newspaper=The Register-Guard|access-date=2019-11-25}} Oregon had a 10–2 regular season record in 2019, and was 8–1 in Pac-12 play. The Ducks were designated as the home team, based on the two teams' record over their best common opponent, USC (Oregon won while Utah lost).{{cite web|url=https://pac-12.com/article/2014/11/06/pac-12-football-championship-game-tiebreaker-explanation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141109183456/http://pac-12.com/article/2014/11/06/pac-12-football-championship-game-tiebreaker-explanation|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 9, 2014|title=Pac-12 Football Championship Game tiebreaker explanation|date=August 26, 2017|website=Pac-12.com}}
=Utah=
Utah secured its spot in the Championship Game with its November 30 win over Colorado.{{cite news |url=https://pac-12.com/article/2019/11/22/utah-clinches-pac-12-south-will-meet-oregon-pac-12-football-championship-game |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191202155836/https://pac-12.com/article/2019/11/22/utah-clinches-pac-12-south-will-meet-oregon-pac-12-football-championship-game |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 2, 2019 |title=Utah clinches Pac-12 South, will meet Oregon in Pac-12 Football Championship Game |website=pac-12.com |date=November 30, 2019 |accessdate=December 7, 2019}} This was Utah's second appearance in the Championship Game, having also appeared the year prior. Utah entered the game with an 11–1 record, and 8–1 in Pac-12 play.
{{Clear}}
Game summary
{{Americanfootballbox
|titlestyle= {{CollegePrimaryStyle|Pac-12 Conference|color=white}}; text-align:center;
|state=autocollapse
|bg=#fff
|bg2=#eee
|title=2019 Pac-12 Football Championship Game
|date=Friday, December 6, 2019
|time=8:00 p.m. EST (5:00 p.m. PST)
|road=No. 13 Oregon
|R1=10|R2=10|R3=3|R4=14
|home=No. 5 Utah
|H1=0|H2=0|H3=15|H4=0
|stadium= Levi's Stadium • Santa Clara, California
|attendance=38,679
|weather=
|referee=Steve Strimling
|TV=ABC
|TVAnnouncers= Chris Fowler (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (analyst), Molly McGrath (sideline)
|reference=[https://www.espn.com/college-football/game/_/gameId/401132973 ESPN game summary]
|scoring=
;First Quarter
- (8:00) ORE – C. J. Verdell 3 yard rush, Camden Lewis kick (Drive: 9 plays, 67 yards, 3:43; Oregon 7–0)
- (4:17) ORE – Camden Lewis 23 yard field goal (Drive: 6 plays, 56 yards, 2:43; Oregon 10–0)
;Second Quarter
- (11:02) ORE – Justin Herbert 45 yard pass to Johnny Johnson III, Camden Lewis kick (Drive: 3 plays, 70 yards, 1:10; Oregon 17–0)
- (4:56) ORE – Camden Lewis 30 yard field goal (Drive: 10 plays, 57 yards, 4:03; Oregon 20–0)
;Third Quarter
- (10:52) UTAH – Tyler Huntley 24 yard pass to Zack Moss, Jadon Redding kick (Drive: 6 plays, 53 yards, 2:27; Oregon 20–7)
- (4:56) ORE – Camden Lewis 25 yard field goal (Drive: 8 plays, 43 yards, 2:49; Oregon 23–7)
- (1:13) UTAH – Tyler Huntley 25 yard pass to Samson Nacua, 2-point pass good (Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 3:43; Oregon 23–15)
;Fourth Quarter
- (7:09) ORE – C. J. Verdell 70 yard rush, Camden Lewis kick (Drive: 5 plays, 90 yards, 2:19; Oregon 30–15)
- (2:33) ORE – C. J. Verdell 31 yard rush, Camden Lewis kick (Drive: 2 plays, 35 yards, 0:49; Oregon 37–15)
}}
=Statistics=
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break|width=58%}}
{{AmFootballGameStatistics
| Visitor = Oregon Ducks
| VisitorDisplay = ORE
| Home = Utah Utes
| HomeDisplay = UTAH
| VisFirsts = 19
| VisPlaysYds = 67–432
| VisRushing = 41–239
| VisPassYds = 193
| VisPassing = 14–26–0
| VisTOP = 29:20
| HomeFirsts = 18
| HomePlaysYds = 64–309
| HomeRushing = 35–116
| HomePassYds = 193
| HomePassing = 17–29–2
| HomeTOP = 30:40
}}
{{col-break|width=42%}}
{{AmFootballGameTopPlayers
| Visitor = Oregon Ducks
| VisitorDisplay = Oregon
| Home = Utah Utes
| HomeDisplay = Utah
| VisPasser = Justin Herbert
| VisPassStats = 14/26, 193 yards, 1 TD
| VisRusher = C. J. Verdell
| VisRushStats = 18 carries, 208 yards, 3 TD
| VisReceiver = Johnny Johnson III
| VisReceivingStats = 6 receptions, 87 yards, 1 TD
| HomePasser = Tyler Huntley
| HomePassStats = 17/29, 193 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT
| HomeRusher = Zack Moss
| HomeRushStats = 19 carries, 113 yards
| HomeReceiver = Zack Moss
| HomeReceivingStats = 4 receptions, 57 yards
}}
{{col-end}}
Utah received the opening kickoff, but their first drive ended in a turnover on downs at the Oregon 33 yard line. Oregon scored on their first possession with a three-yard run by C. J. Verdell. They took a 10–0 lead on the next possession with a 23-yard field goal by Camden Lewis. Early in the second quarter, the Ducks extended the lead with a 45-yard touchdown pass from Justin Herbert to Johnny Johnson III. Camden Lewis converted another field goal, from 30 yards out, to make the score 20–0 Oregon at half-time.
Oregon received the second half kickoff, but was forced to punt after a three-and-out. On Utah's first possession, they scored their first points of the day via a 24-yard touchdown pass from Tyler Huntley to Zack Moss. Oregon added three points with a 25-yard field goal by Lewis. Late in the third quarter, Utah scored again with a 25-yard touchdown pass from Huntley to Samson Nacua, and converted a two-point conversion from Huntley to Nacua to make the score 23–15. In the fourth quarter, Oregon put the game out of reach with two long touchdown runs by C. J. Verdell, the first a 70-yard run, and the second a 31-yard run. Oregon wound down the remaining seconds to win by a score of 37–15.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=401132973|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191207124312/https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap?gameId=401132973|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 7, 2019|title=No. 13 Oregon ends No. 5 Utah's playoff hopes with 37-15 win|date=December 6, 2019|website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press}}
C. J. Verdell ran for 208 yards and three touchdowns and was named game MVP.
Aftermath
Oregon, who had been ranked 13th heading into the game, moved up to sixth in the final College Football Playoff rankings, and received a bid to the Rose Bowl against Big Ten runner-up Wisconsin, where they won 28–27. Utah moved down from fifth to 11th and received a bid to play Texas in the Alamo Bowl, where they lost 10–38.
{{Clear}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
{{2019 NCAA football conference championships}}
{{Pac-12 Football Championship Game navbox}}
{{Utah Utes football navbox}}
{{Oregon Ducks football navbox}}
Category:Pac-12 Football Championship Game
Category:Utah Utes football games
Category:Oregon Ducks football games
Category:Sports competitions in Santa Clara, California