The game featured Texas from the
Big 12 and Washington from the
Pac-12. Both teams entered the bowl ranked in all major polls. This was the fifth meeting between the programs; entering the bowl, Texas led the all-time series, 3–1, as Washington's lone win came in the
1979 Sun Bowl.[7]
Texas played to a 8–4 regular-season record, 6–3 in conference play. They were ranked as high as No. 18 during the season. The Longhorns faced four ranked opponents, defeating
Kansas State while losing to
Alabama,
Oklahoma State, and
TCU. Texas entered the bowl 20th in the
College Football Playoff (CFP) ranking.
Washington completed their regular season with a 10–2 record, 7–2 in conference play. Their only losses came in back-to-back contests against
UCLA and
Arizona State. The Huskies faced, and defeated, three ranked opponents:
Michigan State,
Oregon State, and
Oregon. Washington entered the bowl 12th in the CFP ranking.
The game featured Texas from the
Big 12 and Washington from the
Pac-12. Both teams entered the bowl ranked in all major polls. This was the fifth meeting between the programs; entering the bowl, Texas led the all-time series, 3–1, as Washington's lone win came in the
1979 Sun Bowl.[7]
Texas played to a 8–4 regular-season record, 6–3 in conference play. They were ranked as high as No. 18 during the season. The Longhorns faced four ranked opponents, defeating
Kansas State while losing to
Alabama,
Oklahoma State, and
TCU. Texas entered the bowl 20th in the
College Football Playoff (CFP) ranking.
Washington completed their regular season with a 10–2 record, 7–2 in conference play. Their only losses came in back-to-back contests against
UCLA and
Arizona State. The Huskies faced, and defeated, three ranked opponents:
Michigan State,
Oregon State, and
Oregon. Washington entered the bowl 12th in the CFP ranking.