The author of this piece is Ralph D. Russo, a writer for the Associated Press who covers college football.

NEW ORLEANS

At the Sugar Bowl trophy presentation on Monday night, Washington coach Kalen DeBoer and Texas coach Steve Sarkisian were all smiles as they shook hands and took a photo together in their matching dark blue suits.

These individuals are new to this platform, each with unique professional backgrounds: DeBoer gradually advancing from the lower tiers of collegiate football; Sarkisian, the young talent whose rapid ascent was hindered by personal struggles.

At certain points, achieving a spot in the College Football Playoff seemed like an unattainable objective for both teams.

Sarkisian expressed on Sunday that we have the ability to change our current circumstances in life.

This applies not only to the coaches, but also to their teams. In the past three seasons, Washington and Texas only won a total of nine games. However, they played against each other in the Alamo Bowl last year. On January 1st, the second-ranked team, Washington Huskies (13-0), and the third-ranked team, Texas Longhorns (12-1), will compete for a chance to play in the national championship game.

Sarkisian expressed excitement for the upcoming college football game, stating that it will take place on a prime-time Monday night with a lot of attention focused on it.

Sarkisian, a BYU quarterback in the past, has primarily been in the public eye during his time as a coach. When he was 27 years old, he worked as a quarterbacks coach for Pete Carroll at Southern California. After a brief stint in the NFL with the Oakland team, he was considered for the position of head coach for the Raiders in his early 30s. Ultimately, he accepted the job as head coach for Washington in December 2008 at the age of 34.

The Huskies had just finished a season without any wins. Sarkisian held a record of 34-29 during his five-year tenure before returning to his previous position as head coach at USC.

Sarkisian stated that those five years he spent there greatly influenced who he is today.

In 2015, Sarkisian was dismissed from his position at USC after only a year and a half due to issues with alcoholism. He was concerned that he had jeopardized his future career.

Sarkisian shared, “I was unemployed and unable to secure an interview, let alone a job. The thought of the College Football Playoffs seemed out of reach.” He added, “This journey with the team this year has been incredibly fulfilling.”

Sarkisian was lucky to receive a chance to work as an off-field analyst at Alabama, alongside his longtime friend Lane Kiffin who was the offensive coordinator. The support of Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban played a significant role in Sarkisian’s return to success.

Sarkisian served as the offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons for a span of two years. He then rejoined the Alabama team as their offensive coordinator and played a crucial role in their 2020 national championship victory.

Afterwards, Texas offered Sarkisian, who is currently 49 years old, an opportunity to once again be a head coach.

“It’s truly intriguing to reflect on the path I’ve taken to reach this moment. However, I am optimistic that my journey can inspire and motivate others,” he expressed.

During Sarkisian’s consideration of NFL opportunities, he served as a play caller for a successful team and took on the role of a Pac-12 head coach in his thirties. However, DeBoer was focused on coaching in harsh weather conditions and developing an impressive track record in college football, far from the glitz and glamour of big-time programs.

In 2005, DeBoer returned to his alma mater in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to become the head coach. During his five-year tenure, he achieved a record of 67 wins and 3 losses, winning three national championships. Although some may have expected him to aim for higher positions, DeBoer was content with his position at the time.

“I began my coaching career at the NAIA level, which was my only experience at the time. It was all about finding joy in coaching, competing, and striving to win national championships and excel at the level you are in,” he stated.

“I have always viewed New Year’s Day as an opportunity to achieve anything, and I never doubted my abilities. I often wondered what path I would take to transition from playing football at a small college to reaching the Power Five level.”

Over the course of 12 seasons, the journey consisted of five stops, with each one representing a gradual progression. DeBoer initially gained experience in Division I football as the offensive coordinator at Southern Illinois, which is in the Championship Subdivision. He then spent two seasons at Eastern Michigan, followed by two at Fresno State and one at Indiana, before ultimately returning to Fresno as the head coach in 2020.

In 2021, Washington successfully recruited him to join the Pac-12 conference. After two years at the university, he has a record of 24 wins and 2 losses. DeBoer, who was named the AP’s coach of the year in 2023, has an overall record of 103 wins and 11 losses in his nine years as a head coach. He is now preparing for the most significant game of his career.

According to him, there should be some butterflies and possibly more anticipation leading up to the start of the game. He believes that after many years of experience, once the first snap is taken and the first play begins, he will switch into coaching and playing mode as he has done in countless previous games.

REMATCH

Washington and Texas have faced each other on five occasions in the past, with the last three meetings being in bowl games. Their most recent encounter occurred just over a year ago.

The Huskies emerged victorious in the Alamo Bowl last season, defeating the Longhorns 27-20. Washington took control of the game early in the fourth quarter, securing a 27-10 lead and managing to fend off their opponents.

Both teams’ quarterbacks returned for the game. Quinn Ewers of Texas threw for 369 yards and one touchdown, while Michael Penix Jr. of Washington had 287 yards and two touchdowns. The main discrepancy was in rushing yards, with the Huskies totaling 158 compared to Texas’ 51.

One year later, the Longhorns have become known as one of the most challenging teams in the nation to run against, allowing an average of only 80.5 yards per game. Their defense is led by standout players T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy II, both of whom were named All-Americans.

DeBoer mentioned that under Sarkisian’s leadership, the football team has shown significant growth and development. He also acknowledged the great job done by the staff.

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Check out Ralph D. Russo on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and tune in to their podcast at http://www.appodcasts.com.

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The Associated Press’ college football rankings can be found at the following links: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football.

Source: wralsportsfan.com