Washington Football: 3 bowl game possibilities for the Huskies

1. Sun Bowl (Sun Bowl Stadium/El Paso, Texas vs. ACC)

Along with the Orange Bowl and the Sugar Bowl, the Sun Bowl in El Paso is tied for the second-oldest bowl contest in the country. First featured in 1935, the game doesn’t enjoy quite the same level of prestige as its New Year’s Six counterparts. But earning a trip to West Texas is still an honor for teams that get an invitation.

This year, Washington could be the Pac-12 team representative in the venerated contest. The Huskies have played in the Sun Bowl four times previously. But it has been 15 years since their last trip to El Paso. Washington is 1-3 in its previous Sun Bowls. They won on their first visit, the 1979 edition against Texas. Losses to Alabama in 1986, Iowa in 1995, and Purdue in 2002 followed since that initial victory over the Longhorns.

This year, the Pac-12 is paired against the ACC in the Sun Bowl. Clemson and Miami are both certain to land postseason invitations closer to home. That means the Huskies would likely get to face a team like Louisville, Virginia Tech, or NC State if they get the call-up to the Sun Bowl. For a team that dreamed of returning to the Playoff or a New Year’s Six bowl, it would be the next-best thing in terms of major bowl opportunities.