Kalen DeBoer opens up on what a bowl win would mean for Washington

Kalen DeBoer has had a successful first season as head coach at Washington. After going 12-6 over two years at Fresno State, he has the Huskies in the Alamo Bowl against Texas after going 10-2 in 2022. However, although he has accomplished in such a short span already in Seattle, he believes a win in their bowl game would really highlight what they’ve done this season.

DeBoer said as much on Wednesday ahead of his team’s matchup with the Longhorns in San Antonio. He said a win tonight would add to the momentum their program has built this season and that his players are excited for the opportunity to do just that.

“I think it’s just built on the momentum that we’ve had. Especially here in the last six weeks of the season,” said DeBoer. “That momentum has just always been positive. It’s always going the right direction. I think it just adds to that.”

“The guys are excited, and new challenges, right? New challenges, not just within our conference now, but outside of our conference,” DeBoer said. “The greatest challenge up to this point against a really good football team. It will say a lot about the preparation and what this means to them with the effort that they put forth tomorrow.”

The key to Washington’s success this season is rooted in their offense. That offense finished Top-5 in the nation with an average of 40.8 points per game. It helped them run off four high-scoring wins to start the season. After two losses, it then led them to six more wins as they found their footing again down the stretch.

Now, ahead of their 9 p.m. EST kickoff tonight from the Alamodome, they’ll be playing for an impressive 11th win. That says a lot about where DeBoer already has his new program and, depending on the outcome tonight, it could be a major spring board for them heading into his second season in 2023.