Louisville Defeats Washington in Sun Bowl Thriller

The University of Washington Huskies narrowly lost to the Louisville Cardinals 35-34 in the 2024 Sun Bowl, despite a valiant effort from freshman quarterback Demond Williams Jr., who threw for 374 yards and four touchdowns, and ran for a fifth score. Washington attempted a two-point conversion to win the game in the final seconds, but the pass was deflected by Louisville's Antonio Watts. Louisville's victory was led by backup quarterback Harrison Bailey, who stepped in after Tyler Shough opted out to prepare for the NFL Draft, completing 16 of 25 passes for 164 yards and three touchdowns. The Huskies' defense struggled against Louisville's run game, allowing 207 rushing yards, but managed to stop two critical fourth-quarter drives to give their offense a chance at a comeback. Despite this loss, Williams' performance and Giles Jackson's 161 receiving yards and four touchdowns were highlights for Washington. The game marked the first meeting between the two programs and was part of the historic Sun Bowl, the second-oldest college football bowl game.