Interest in the Pac 12 Championship game started to deflate pretty quickly for many Duck fans. After the weak performance and loss to Utah 2 weeks prior (which ended any playoff talk undeserved or deserved.) , it became known that the head coach was visiting his ailing mother in Miami [At the same time, the U was expressing interest in Cristobal and leaving their coach hanging.] Any talk of a revenge rematch was quickly replaced with the drama of what was going on with the head coaching drama. [Is he accepting a new Duck contract via Phil Knight, is he going to Miami, who were the possible replacements, which coaches might stay or leave, etc.] The championship game became an afterthought...and the bowl destinations weren't that intriguing either compared to the coaching uncertainty, especially since Cristobal had been promoted when the previous coach thankfully left for FSU. Lots of pressure on the UO AD at the time.