Harrison Bailey threw for three touchdowns Tuesday and Louisville held off Washington 35-34 to win the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas.

Bailey was more efficient than spectacular, completing 16 of 25 passes for 164 yards, but also directed a turnover-free offense that boasted good balance. The Cardinals (9-4) rushed for 207 yards, getting 99 yards from freshman Isaac Brown and 83 from another freshman, Duke Watson.

The Huskies (6-7) got a big game from quarterback Demond Williams, who shrugged off an early pick-six to hit 26 of 32 attempts for 374 yards and four scores. Giles Jackson shredded the Louisville secondary for 11 catches, 161 yards and all four touchdowns.

Bailey snapped a 21-21 tie on a 21-yard touchdown strike to wide-open tight end Nate Kurisky with 4:46 left in the third quarter. Louisville made it 35-21 less than three minutes later on an 8-yard scoring jaunt by Caullin Lacy.

Williams found Jackson over the middle for a 31-yard touchdown pass with 3:42 left in the game to get the Huskies within a score. They got within a point with nine seconds left when Williams hit Jackson on fourth-and-goal for a 1-yard strike but the two-point pass for the win was knocked away by Antonio Watts.

After two 15-yard celebration penalties on the Cardinals, Washington tried an onside kick from their 35 but the ball was knocked out of bounds with four seconds remaining.

Tahveon Nicholson gave Louisville a 7-0 lead 2:45 into the game, picking off Williams and lugging it 21 yards for a touchdown. But Williams responded with a 40-yard strike to Jackson at the 8:09 mark.

Bailey made it 14-7 with 27 seconds left in the first quarter on a 9-yard touchdown pass to Lacy but Williams and Jackson hooked up from 49 yards out with 8:10 remaining in the half.

Bailey’s 28-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Meeks gave the Cardinals a 21-14 edge but Williams rushed for a 7-yard score with 51 seconds left, tying the game at halftime.

–Field Level Media

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