Cougars, Huskies accept bowl bids

Washington and Washington State accepted invitations to play in bowl games Sunday, with the Huskies headed to the Sun Bowl and the Cougars to the Holiday Bowl.

Washington will head to El Paso, Texas to play ACC-opponent Louisville at 11 a.m. on Tuesday Dec. 31. The game will be broadcast on CBS.

It’s UW’s 43rd bowl appearance in program history.

The Huskies (6-6) will make their fifth appearance at the Sun Bowl. Washington hasn’t won the game since a 14-7 win against Texas in 1979, losing during its past three trips to El Paso. This will be the Huskies’ first time ever playing the Cardinals (8-4).

The DirecTV Holiday Bowl will feature the Cougars against No. 21 Syracuse (9-3, 5-3 ACC) from the Atlantic Coast Conference. This will mark the second meeting between the two teams, the first being a 52-25 Syracuse win in Buffalo, N.Y. in 1979.

The game will be played at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 27 in San Diego.

“Washington State is excited to accept an invitation to the 2024 DirecTV Holiday Bowl,” WSU athletic director Anne McCoy said. “To participate in one of the premier bowl games, in a region where many of our fans can attend, will provide a memorable experience for our players, coaches and alumni.”

Coach Jake Dickert guided WSU to an 8-4 regular-season record. The Cougars opened the season with four-straight victories, including wins over Texas Tech and Washington.