Dillon Johnson will not miss the national championship no matter how much pain he is in.
The Washington running back injured his ankle and knee while the Huskies were trying to run out the clock against No. 3 Texas in a CFP semifinal game.
He helped Texas get the ball with more time left, but Washington held on and avoided a collapse.
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Washington Huskies running back Dillon Johnson (7) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the Pac-12 championship game against the Oregon Ducks on Dec. 1, 2023, at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. (Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
“I’ve never been on the field and not been able to get up,” Johnson said, via ESPN. “So it was definitely a scary situation, one I’d never been in, and it was horrible because I knew… [I wasn’t] with the intention of hurting the team, but it definitely would have taken a lot of time off the clock. “So we gave them another push, and I hate for that to happen, but somehow we pulled out the win.”
It looked like the injury might have been enough to miss time. Maybe if it were the regular season, that would be the case.
But this is the national championship.
Johnson was asked if he would be 100% healthy for Monday’s title game against Michigan.
Dillon Johnson of the Washington Huskies runs against the USC Trojans in the second quarter at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Nov. 4, 2023, in Los Angeles. (Ronald Martínez/Getty Images)
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“I doubt it,” he replied.
But it’s the biggest game of his life, and even running backs coach Lee Marks said he and Johnson expect the running back to be “at full strength.”
“It’s all good,” Johnson said. “I’ll be ready to rock and give what my team needs. I’ll be ready to do it.”
Johnson has rushed for 1,162 yards in 13 games this season. He put himself on the map with a 256-yard, four-touchdown performance against USC on Nov. 11. He had combined for 430 in his previous seven games.
Dillon Johnson (7) of the Washington Huskies celebrates with Nate Kalepo (71) after scoring a touchdown against the Oregon Ducks during the second quarter at Husky Stadium on October 14, 2023 in Seattle. (Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
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Texas was able to contain him. He had only 49 rushing yards on 21 carries, but managed to score twice.
Monday’s kickoff is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. ET.
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