Filed under: Nebraska, Washington, Coaching, Bowl Games
SAN DIEGO -- Payback, West Coast style, has produced the bowl season's first jaw-dropping upset.The Washington Huskies, unranked owners of a 6-6 record, defeated No. 17 Nebraska 19-7 in the Holiday Bowl on Thursday for UW's first postseason triumph since a Rose Bowl victory in 2001.
Only three months ago, Nebraska routed Washington by 35 points behind 383 yards rushing.
Washington won the rematch nearly as decisively, outgaining Nebraska 340-189 and registering five sacks for minus-43 yards.
Nebraska coach Bo Pelini on his team: "It was just a ridiculous performance."
Huskies defenders outquicked or overpowered Nebraska's blockers for most of the game. The second half playmaking of Huskies quarterback Jake Locker, a senior likely destined for the NFL, kept Nebraska's defense off balance. Huskies running back Chris Polk ran for 177 yards in 34 carries.
Nebraska (10-4) had been 3-0 in bowl games under Pelini, including a 33-0 rout of Arizona in last year's Holiday Bowl. Favored by 14 points, the Huskers insisted they were eager for the rematch -- but they never would lead the Pacific 10's third-place club.
Washington (7-6) won its fourth consecutive game, moving it further from an 0-12 season three years ago that led the Huskies to hire Steve Sarkisian, an offensive assistant to USC coach Pete Carroll, as their head coach. Sarkisian's first Huskies team went 5-7. This year, the Huskies reached their first bowl since 2002.
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