Reasons to be optimistic? Yes, in my book. We should root for Oregon. The other eleven P12 teams can win or lose on any day, at home or away. The Rose Bowl is the crap shoot for the P12 championship runner-up.
And, I look forward to seeing Rising for an entire game!
Not necessarily true. If the winner of the PAC 12 is invited to the CFP and the rose bowl is not a playoff site, then the rose bowl committee chooses the next best pac 12 team (which is usually the runner up). There is a possibility that Washington could run the table and their only next loss could be to Oregon and still be invited over us (if we make it to the CG). Rose bowl committee wants to fill seats and bring eyes to the screen.