What a game.

Neither side could stop the other. A crucial interception to open the fourth quarter looked like it would cost Washington, only for the game to completely flip again after an injury to Oregon quarterback Bo Nix. And, of course, we got late drama from the Pac-12’s officiating crew.

After everything — 1,114 combined yards of offense, 32 combined explosive plays, and six lead changes — No. 25 Washington (8-2, 5-2 Pac-12) was left standing over No. 6 Oregon (8-2, 6-1 Pac-12).

The Huskies won 37-34 inside Autzen Stadium. Doing so snapped a three-game losing streak to the Ducks, it snapped an eight-game Oregon winning streak on the season, and it snapped a 23-game home winning streak for the Ducks at Autzen.

Here are three takeaways from the game.

One late turnover nearly decides things

The way the Ducks and Huskies were going back and forth at each other, it felt like a turnover would decide things. And for a moment, it looked like that’s exactly what had happened.

Technically, the turnover battle was a wash. Oregon fumbled the ball away in the first half; Washington threw an interception in the second. Bo Nix fumbled a center exchange at the Washington 1-yard-line in the second quarter. UW played keep-away from UO in the first quarter — part of why we got to halftime with a 13-10 Washington lead — and then Oregon returned the favor in the second half.

The two sides exchanged blow after blow after blow in the third quarter. The frame featured 35 combined points and 14 combined explosive plays. There were scoring plays of 29 yards, 46 yards, 67 yards, and 76 yards. The lead changed hands five times in the frame.

UW looked like it was going to keep the pace going to open the fourth quarter as quarterback Michael Penix Jr. led an 11-play, 98-yard march. The drive began in the shadow of UW’s endzone because of a slip on the kickoff. UW then walked right down the field, with gains of 11, 16, 6, 10, 19, 21, and 10 yards. Oregon had no answer. (A theme.)

And then Penix tried to force a throw he had no business attempting, Oregon’s Noah Sewell got a hand on it, and teammate Jeffrey Bassa caught it on the deflection at the Oregon 1 to end the drive with zero damage done.

Considering Washington had a 5-yard delay of game penalty on the drive, it gained 103 yards on a possession that ended with zero points.

Sensing the significance of the moment, Oregon offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham said it was time to throttle back and bleed the clock.

Led by Nix, Oregon embarked on a 20-play, 91-yard march. Washington gave the ball to Oregon with 14:27 on the game clock. It didn’t get the ball back until there was 3:54 to play. A 10-minute, 33-second possession.

That should have been the game.

But Oregon had to settle for a field goal. Oregon had its chances. And it’ll walk away feeling like it didn’t make enough plays to win. Washington should walk away with confidence that it was able to make the stop when it mattered most.

Bo Nix’s injury prompts major questions

Nix took a shot from UW safety Alex Cook on a third-and-5 run that gained just 2 yards to halt the long march. Oregon wanted a touchdown — something that would have put the Ducks up by 11 with less than four to play. More concerning, though, was whether Nix would be able to finish out the game.

Oregon showed no ability to slow UW’s pass game at all throughout the contest, so you just knew the Huskies would find a way to make up a single score with what was left on the clock. And it took them all of 47 seconds to do it. Penix threw deep down the left sideline to Taj Davis for 62 yards and the tie.

On the ensuing Oregon possession, second-year freshman quarterback Ty Thompson replaced Nix at the controls.

Oregon ran it three straight times for 9 yards. Washington knew the run was coming. The crowd knew the run was coming. Oregon showed zero confidence in Thompson’s ability to put the football in the air. And then, on fourth-and-1 from its own 34-yard-line, Oregon went for it.

Noah Whittington slipped after taking the handoff and everyone with an internet connection made the same joke about the Ducks’ CFP chances slipping away with him. Oregon turned it over on downs. Washington gained 8 yards and kicked a field goal to take a 37-34 lead.

Those three points proved to be decisive.

Oregon has been aggressive all season. Coach Dan Lanning has rolled the dice and during what was an eight-game winning streak, they kept coming up the Ducks’ way. On Saturday against Washington, the breaks weren’t there. It’s hard to question some of the decisions made earlier in the game because they were the same ones Oregon has been making all year — the Ducks just didn’t execute — but that fourth-and-1 attempt is going to haunt the Ducks.

Nix came back onto the field for Oregon’s final possession of the game, but he was very clearly limited. His health becomes the biggest story going forward. Oregon isn’t boxed out of the Pac-12 title game yet, but if Nix is hobbled in any way from here on out it gets precarious.

The Ducks’ College Football Playoff hopes ended Saturday night. Washington got to play spoiler. That’ll be a tough pill to swallow in Eugene when they pop in the game tape and watch this one back.

Michael Penix Jr. continues his run toward the UW record books

The Husky quarterback made throw after throw after throw.

He finished 26-for-35 for 408 yards and two touchdowns. Yes, he had the interception, but every time UW needed a response in the second half, Penix was there to deliver.

Neither side will be happy with the defense it played, particularly in the secondary. And neither side should. There were free runners all over the field. But Penix has been doing this all season.

He moves to 3,640 yards on the season. Washington has two games left in the regular season. It’ll have a bowl game to play as well. Cody Pickett owns the program record for passing yards in a single season, throwing for 4,458 yards in 2002. Penix is on pace to take it.