Washington vs. BYU, 2013 Fight Hunger Bowl: Transitioning Huskies reach 9 wins

Via the University of Washington:

Seferian-Jenkins’ 2013 campaign disappointed, at least compared to his breakout 2012 season. His catches dipped from 69 to 36, and his yardage went from 852 yards to 450. He actually became more of a factor in the red zone, with eight of those 36 catches resulting in scores (compared to seven of 69 in 2012), but by and large the Washington passing game was effective with or without his help; Seferian-Jenkins never topped four catches in a game in 2013 except against FCS cupcake Idaho State (five catches).

New, young Syracuse fans in the Houston area. Possibly the coolest thing with which SB Nation has been associated all year. Endless kudos, Sean Keeley and the (growing) ‘Cuse fan base.

Maryland wins in 2013. Head coach Randy Edsall still catches rather justifiable flack for the 2011 season, in which he inherited the remnants of a 9-4 squad, drove off a ton of players, and went 2-10. That was, and will almost certainly be, the worst coaching performance of Edsall’s career, and it created a major question mark regarding his ability to lead a successful program.

Interim coach Marques Tuiasosopo, who took over for USC-bound Steve Sarkisian for the bowl game, led Washington to their first bowl win since 2010. The Huskies (9-4) won nine games for the first time since 2000.

Price left the game in the third quarter with an apparent rib injury, per the ESPN broadcast, and didn’t return. He completed 17 of 22 passes for 122 yards in his final college contest, and ran for 27 more yards. Price also threw one touchdown pass, the 75th scoring strike of his career, a Washington school record.

It wasn’t the best year to be a pretty good team from the western part of the United States. At least, it wasn’t good if you wanted to be recognized.

Of the top 37 teams in the current F/+ rankings, a whopping 11 of them are from either the Pac-12 or now or recently in the Mountain West: Stanford (third), Arizona State (sixth), Oregon (eighth), USC (12th), UCLA (13th), Washington (19th), BYU (26th), Arizona (30th), Utah State (33rd), Utah (34th), and Boise State (37th). If we’re comparing regions, the SEC and ACC, two BCS conferences in the most football-fertile area of the country, combined for only 14 in that sample.

This bowl season has a few intriguing regional games, and the Fight Hunger Bowl between BYU and Washington is certainly one of them.

The Cougars started the season with a puzzling loss to Virginia, and put a historic beat down on Texas the next week by a final score of 40-21. After a loss to Utah (another puzzling one), the Cougars won five in a row -- all against bowl teams (with the biggest being Utah State, Georgia Tech and Boise State). Losses down the stretch to Wisconsin and Notre Dame prevented BYU from reaching higher heights, but with two sophomores leading a very strong rushing offense, they have promise for next season.

Former Alabama offensive coordinator Jim McElwain has taken Colorado State bowling for the first time since 2008, going 7-6 and finishing third in the Mountain division of the Mountain West. Out of those seven wins, none came against teams that finished with a winning record, but the Rams have a legitimate star in running back Kapri Bibbs. The sophomore led the nation with 28 touchdown runs this season on fewer than 20 carries per game, and has set school records in rushing touchdowns, total touchdowns and points scored.

Carr is one of the very best quarterbacks in the country, passing for 48 touchdowns and nearly 5,000 yards on the season. The Bulldogs started the year 10-0, with notable wins over Rutgers, Boise State and San Diego State before a dramatic Friday night loss to San Jose State. Fresno State still won the conference, defeating Utah State in the conference title game.

This year’s Fight Hunger Bowl between BYU and Washington will have an added significance, as it will be the first major college football game with multiple female referees on the officiating crew:

Sarah Thomas is perhaps the most widely known female referee, as she was the first woman to officiate a major college football game or a bowl game. Thomas is currently a finalist to become a permanent NFL official, which would make her the first woman to hold such a position.

As one of three bowl games currently being played in baseball stadiums, the Fight Hunger Bowl is a bit of an oddity. Further odd is its actually arrangement -- the fifth place Pac-12 team is contractually obligated to play BYU, provided that the Cougars qualify for a bowl. If they do not, they will be replaced by an ACC or Mountain West Conference team.

This will also be the final edition of the Fight Hunger Bowl as it currently is -- starting next season, it will be played in Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.