Ultimately, it was a 23-37 loss at Wisconsin by Oregon earlier in the season that decided the Rose Bowl representative.
It was the fourteenth Rose Bowl appearance for Washington, but their first since going to three straight in the early 1990s under head coach Don James.
The Boilermakers made surprising wins in October starting with Michigan, at Northwestern, at Wisconsin, and finishing with Ohio State.
Washington, led by senior quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo, the Rose Bowl MVP, finished the season at 11–1 and was ranked third in the final polls.
Washington's victory broke a four-game win streak by the Big Ten in the Rose Bowl.