The 2024 Sun Bowl features the 8-4 Louisville Cardinals against the 6-6 Washington Huskies. Here is the 2024 Sun Bowl Preview.
Louisville won eight games this season to qualify for a bowl game. They defeated five bowl-eligible teams this season: Jacksonville State, Georgia Tech, Boston College, Clemson and Pitt. Their lone loss to a team that didn’t make a bowl game was to Stanford.
The Cardinals score 37.6 points per game, ranking 10th in the country. They pass for 272.4 yards (ranked 20th) and rush for 183.3 yards per game (ranked 37th).
Tyler Shough was the starting quarterback this season, but he opted out of this game. Harrison Bailey will start after passing for 63 yards this season. On the year, four players have at least 200 receiving yards for the Cardinals. Two of them are opting out for this game, leaving Chris Bell (677) and tight end Mark Redman (239) as the leading receivers.
Isaac Brown has led the team in rushing with 1,074 yards and 11 touchdowns. Duke Watson has been good behind him with 514 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.
Defensively, the Cardinals allow 23.3 points per game, ranking 51st in the country. They give up 272.4 passing yards and 183.3 rushing yards per game. TJ Quinn has led the team with 79 total tackles. Leading sacker Ashton Gillotte has 4.5 on the season, but opted out of this game. Corey Thornton has been impressive in the secondary with six passes defended and two interceptions.
Washington won six games to make a bowl game in Jedd Fisch’s first season. They defeated two bowl-eligible teams: Michigan and USC. All six of their losses were to bowl-eligible teams.
The Huskies score 22.5 points per game, ranking 110th in the country. They pass for 252.3 yards (ranked 39th) and rush for 131.3 yards per game (ranked 93rd).
Demond Williams took over the starting quarterback spot late in the season. He passed for 570 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions on 76.7 percent completion. Four players had at least 300 receiving yards on the season for the Huskies. Denzel Boston has been the leading receiver with 807 yards and nine touchdowns.
The Huskies have a workhorse of a running back who has been a star this season in Jonah Coleman. He has rushed for 1,011 yards and 10 touchdowns. Williams is the second-leading rusher after having special packages for him this season at 254 yards.
On defense, the Huskies give up 22.8 points per game, ranking 45th in the FBS. They concede 252.3 passing yards and 131.3 rushing yards per game. Carson Bruener brought down plenty of ball carriers with 93 total tackles. Alphonzo Tuputala paces the team with 3.5 sacks. Thaddeus Dixon has had a breakout season in the secondary with 10 passes defended and one interception.
Louisville had plenty of opt-outs, but there are still playmakers that will be suiting up for the Cardinals. Jeff Brohm can still make the offense functional and Washington could struggle with a young quarterback in.
Louisville Cardinals 22 Washington Huskies 17
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