The Louisville Cardinals will feature a new look as they head to El Paso, Texas, to face the Washington Huskies in the Sun Bowl on Tuesday.
Coach Jeff Brohm’s team will be without starting quarterback Tyler Shough, who threw for 3,195 yards; Ja’Corey Brooks, a 1,000-yard receiver; standout defensive lineman Ashton Gillotte; and Quincy Riley, who led the secondary with nine passes defended and had two interceptions.
Those players are all now preparing for the upcoming NFL draft, and several other players, such as backup quarterback Pierce Clarkson and defensive back Benjamin Perry, entered into the transfer portal.
That said, it is not as if the cupboard is bare for the Cardinals (8-4), who have won four of their past five games and are averaging 36.6 points per game on the season. Freshmen running backs Isaac Brown, who ran for 1,074 yards and an Atlantic Coast Conference-best 7.3 yards a carry, and Duke Watson, who averaged 9.0 yards a carry en route to 514 yards, will still be the centerpieces in the backfield.
In addition, wide receiver Caullin Lacy, one of Louisville’s top transfer portal acquisitions last season, is expected to replace Brooks in the lineup. Injuries sidelined Lacy for most of the season, and he chose midway through to take a redshirt year after playing in just four games. His appearance in the Sun Bowl will not affect his ability to return for a sixth season in 2025.
Another senior, Harrison Bailey, is expected to get the start at quarterback against the Huskies (6-6). Bailey, who previously played at Tennessee and UNLV, has thrown just eight passes this season, completing them all for 63 yards.
While some positions likely have been claimed for next season — Louisville landed former Southern California quarterback Miller Moss in the portal earlier this month — Brohm told reporters during a Sun Bowl press conference that some younger players will be vying for spots for next year’s team.
“It’s important that they do play well if they want to get a position for next year,” he said. “They need to prove themselves in this football game, and we have to make decisions after that, according to how the game goes.”
Meanwhile, the Huskies, after losing in the national championship game last season, stumbled a bit in their Big Ten debut under first-year coach Jedd Fisch. Washington never won or lost more than two in a row this season, falling at top-ranked Oregon 49-21 to end the regular season.
Despite the ups and downs, Fisch noted that the team is treating the game as a reward for the season.
“They are opportunities for players who gave a ton of blood, sweat and tears in spring ball, in training camp, in the season, during 6 a.m. workouts, lifting all throughout November, December, to be able to play in a game,” he said. “For some reason, recently, we’ve decided that (bowl games are) not as important, and I don’t agree. … If you have a chance to go play in a bowl game, it should be a championship mentality.”
Washington averages just 22.5 points a game, 110th nationally out of 134 teams. However, the Huskies have some talented players on offense.
Freshman Demond Williams Jr., whom Fisch lured from Arizona when he became the coach, is expected to start at quarterback. Jonah Coleman ran for 1,011 yards and 10 touchdowns, while Denzel Boston led the team with 807 receiving yards and nine scores.
“We’re excited about going to the second-oldest bowl game,” Fisch said. “I’ve never been to the Sun Bowl, so there’s a new bowl game on my checklist, and we are going to make it a fantastic experience for our team.”
The Huskies will be without multiple players who entered the transfer portal, including running back Cameron Davis (44 carries, 190 yards), offensive linemen Gaard Memmelaar and Kahlee Tafai, linebacker Khmori House (35 tackles, four passes defensed, one interception), cornerback Elijah Jackson (17 tackles, two passes defensed) and punter Jack McCallister (36 punts, 44-yard average).
–Field Level Media
