A team that needed a late winning streak to earn its bowl trip, faces one of the nation’s best turnaround stories when Washington takes on Southern Miss in the Heart of Dallas Bowl. Kickoff on Dec. 26 is scheduled for 2:20 p.m. ET, with television coverage on ESPN.
Watch the Washington vs. Southern Miss Heart of Dallas Bowl online: Time, TV schedule, live stream, 3 things to know
The Huskies and Golden Eagles try to finish their seasons with a win. Here’s how to see it.
Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Washington coach Chris Petersen nearly had his decade-long bowl streak snapped this season. The Huskies entered the last two weeks of the season at 4-6. Even after annihilating Oregon State, Washington needed a win over rival Washington State, which had risen to No. 20 in the polls. But an improbable 35-point victory punched the Huskies’ ticket to bowl season, Washington’s sixth consecutive bowl trip.
Southern Miss had been a force in Conference USA under former coach Larry Fedora, going 12-2 and winning the Hawaii Bowl in 2011. In one season under Ellis Johnson, the program collapsed, losing all 12 games in 2012. It took Todd Monken three seasons, but the Golden Eagles have finally returned to prominence. Southern Miss won the Conference USA West Division title this season, and is playing in its first bowl game since that 2011 campaign.
How to watch, stream and listen
TV: Dec. 26, 2:20 p.m. ET, ESPN
Radio: Washington and Southern Miss affiliates are available.
Online streaming: WatchESPN
Spread: Washington is favored by 8.5 points
Make friends: Get to SB Nation’s team blog chats for this game at UW Dawg Pound and Underdog Dynasty.
Three big things to know
The unstoppable force: Southern Miss sports Conference USA's best offense, an attack ranked ninth nationally with 520 yards per game. The Golden Eagles' 40 points per game is second only to Western Kentucky in their conference, and among the top 15 in the country. Monken's team has done it with balance: Southern Miss averages 192 yards per game on the ground and 328 through the air. Junior quarterback Nick Mullens has thrown for more than 4,100 yards and 36 touchdowns, 12 of which were caught by top wideout Michael Thomas. Running back Jalen Richard is 2 yards shy of 1,100 for the year, and has run for 100 or more yards in five games this season.
The immovable object: Chris Petersen’s second Washington team has relied heavily on defense to overcome an anemic running game and modest passing attack. The Huskies are allowing just 17.8 points and 350 yards per game, and have forced 27 turnovers from their opponents. Linebacker Travis Feeney has been a wrecking ball, recording seven sacks and 15.5 tackles for loss.
Heart of darkness: The Lone Star State has not been good to Washington in the last 35 years. The Huskies have not won a bowl game played in Texas since the 1979 Sun Bowl, going 0-4 in its last four postseason trips there. Southern Miss has never won a bowl game in Texas, having lost the 2002 Houston Bowl and back-to-back Sun Bowls in the 1950s.
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