PULLMAN, Wash. -- Washington coach Rick Neuheisel admitted he made a mistake last week by mentioning the possibility of the Huskies playing for the national championship.

"We're still in the national title hunt," he said. "That's not out of reach."

He quickly retracted his comment to focus on Saturday's Apple Cup -- the 100th meeting against rival Washington State -- where the Huskies beat the Cougars 51-3 and moved up two places to No. 4 in the national rankings.

Washington was fifth in the Bowl Championship Series rankings last week behind Oklahoma, Miami, Florida State and Florida, but probably will move up Monday after Florida State's victory over Florida.

No. 1 Oklahoma (10-0) probably will play No. 2 Miami or No. 3 Florida State for the national championship in the Orange Bowl, but Washington still has a chance. The Huskies are the only team to beat Miami (11-1) this season, 34-29 at Seattle, Sept. 9.

Miami would have to be upset by Boston College and Oklahoma would have to lose one of its two remaining games, against Oklahoma State and Kansas State, for Washington to possibly get in.

Neuheisel didn't comment on the Huskies' BCS chances after the Apple Cup, preferring to talk about the one bowl appearance Washington has clinched.

"I've got great memories of the Rose Bowl," he said. "I played in two of them. One as a holder, which was a thrill, because it was my first one. The second, I had food poisoning, but I ended up playing well and our team beat Illinois. It's a treat of a lifetime, and we're going to make it special."

Neuheisel also went to the Rose Bowl as an assistant coach at UCLA.

Washington (10-1, 7-1 Pac-10) became the conference representative when Oregon State beat Oregon Saturday to tie for the conference lead.

Washington beat Oregon State 33-30 at Seattle Oct. 7. The Huskies lost to Oregon, but won the Rose Bowl berth based on non-conference records. Washington went 3-0, while the Ducks won two and lost to Wisconsin.

Quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo said the Huskies were excited about going to the Rose Bowl for the first time since January 1993.

"Our goal was to keep winning and to get Washington back in that game," he said.