Dillon Johnson won't miss the national championship, no matter how injured he is.
The Washington running back injured both his ankle and knee as the Huskies were trying to run out the clock in their game against No. 3 Texas in the CFP semifinals.
This allowed Texas to get possession of the ball with more time remaining, but Washington was persistent 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 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on December 1, 2023. (Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
“I've never been on the field, I've never been able to stand up,” Johnson said via ESPN. “So it was definitely a scary situation, a situation I've never been in, and the worst I've ever known… [I wasn’t] It was meant to hurt the team, but it definitely would have cost him a lot of overtime. So we gave them another drive, and you hate that, but somehow we were able to get the win.”
Apparently, the injury was enough to keep him from playing. That might happen in the regular season.
But this is a national tournament.
Johnson was asked if he would be 100% healthy for Monday's title game against Michigan.
Dillon Johnson of the Washington Huskies plays in the second quarter against the USC Trojans at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on November 4, 2023 in Los Angeles. (Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
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“I don't doubt that,” he answered.
But this is the biggest game of his life, and even running backs coach Lee Marks said he and Johnson expect the running back to “fight as hard as he can.”
“Everything is fine,” Johnson said. “I'm ready to rock and roll and give whatever the team needs. I'm ready to do it.”
Johnson has 1,162 yards rushing in 13 games this season. He made a name for himself on November 11th when he rushed for 256 yards and four touchdowns against USC. He had totaled 430 yards in his previous seven games.
Washington Huskies' Dillon Johnson, 7, celebrates with Nate Calepo, 71, after scoring a touchdown during the second quarter of a game against the Oregon Ducks at Husky Stadium in Seattle on October 14, 2023. ). (Arika Jenner/Getty Images)
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Texas was able to contain him. He had just 49 rushing yards on 21 carries, but he managed to score two scores.
Kickoff Monday is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. ET.
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