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Fiesta Bowl preview: Penn State vs. Washington

The Nittany Lions will be playing in their second straight New Year's Six bowl against the Huskies, their second straight Pac-12 opponent.

Myles Gaskin (9) is Washington’s leading rusher.
Myles Gaskin (9) is Washington’s leading rusher.Read moreCAL SPORT MEDIA

Penn State (10-2, 7-2 Big Ten) will make its fourth consecutive bowl appearance under James Franklin and the 48th in program history Saturday in the Fiesta Bowl, where its opponent will be Washington (10-2, 7-2) of the Pac-12.

The Nittany Lions, who lost a 52-49 heart-breaker to Southern California in last year's Rose Bowl, are playing in back-to-back New Year's Six bowls for the first time 1986-87. They are 6-0 in the Fiesta Bowl with their most memorable win being a 14-10 game against Miami on Jan. 2, 1987, securing for them the second national championship in program history. The Huskies, who qualified last year for the College Football Playoff but lost in the semifinals to Alabama, 24-7, at the Peach Bowl, are strong defensively. They rank No. 1 in FBS in rushing defense (92.3 yards per game), fifth in total defense (277.4-yard average) and sixth in points allowed (14.5 per game). It should be an interesting matchup with Penn State, a team that is seventh in scoring (41.6 points per game) and 29rh in total offense (453.3-yard average).

How to follow and watch the game

When: Saturday, 4 p.m.

Where: University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Ariz.

TV: ESPN

RADIO: 990-AM, WNTP; 1440-AM, WNPV

Twitter: @joejulesinq, @_jillbeckman

Coaches

Penn State, James Franklin (4th season, 35-17; overall, 59-32); Washington, Chris Petersen (4th season, 37-15; overall, 129-28).

Key players

Penn State: RB Saquon Barkley, 5-11, 230, Jr. (1,134 yards rushing, 5.7-yard average per carry, 47 receptions for 594 yards, 28.4-yard average on kickoff returns, 179.5-yard average in all-purpose yardage, 21 total TDs); QB Trace McSorley, 6-0, 195, R-Jr. (65.3 percent completion rate, 3,228 yards, 26 TDs, 8 interceptions, 11 TDs rushing); TE Mike Gesicki, 6-6, 250, Sr. (51 receptions, 501 yards, 9 TDs); WR DaeSean Hamilton, 6-1, 206, R-Sr. (48 receptions, 747 yards, 7 TDs); WR Juwan Johnson, 6-4, 226, R-So. (48 receptions, 635 yards, 1 TD); LB Jason Cabinda, 6-1, 234, Sr. (85 tackles, 6 ½ tackles for loss); FS Marcus Allen, 6-2, 207, Sr. (64 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 1 interception); DE Shareef Miller, 6-5, 257, R-So. (10 tackles for loss, 4 sacks); CB Amani Oruwariye, 6-1, 209, R-Jr. (4 interceptions); K Tyler Davis, 5-11, 183, R-Sr. (9-16 field goals, long 47).

Washington: RB Myles Gaskin, 5-10, 191, Jr. (1,282 yards rushing, 6.2-yard average per carry, 18 receptions for 228 yards, 22 total TDs); QB Jake Browning, 6-2, 210, Jr. (68.8 percent completion rate, 2,544 yards, 18 TDs, 5 interceptions, 6 TDs rushing); WR Dante Pettis, 6-1, 195, Sr. (62 receptions, 721 yards, 7 TDs, 20.4-yard average on punt returns, 4 return TDs); WR Aaron Fuller, 5-10, 187, So. (20 receptions, 230 yards); TE Will Dissley, 6-4, 267, Sr. (19 receptions, 230 yards, 2 TDs); LB Ben Burr-Kirven, 6-0, 222, Jr. (79 tackles, 4 tackles for loss); SS Taylor Rapp, 6-0, 212, So. (55 tackles); LB Tevis Bartlett, 6-2, 234, Jr. (12 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 2 interceptions); LB Ryan Bowman, 6-0, 262, R-Fr. (8 ½ tackles for loss, 5 ½ sacks); K Tristan Vizcaino, 6-2, 202, Sr. (12-19 field goals, long 44).

Head to head

Penn State holds a 2-0 lead over Washington, with games played in 1921 in Seattle and in 1983 at the Aloha Bowl, which the Nittany Lions won, 13-10, in Honolulu.