Washington is a new type of Playoff opponent for Alabama

College football’s third Playoff is about to get under way, and Alabama is once again in the mix. The Crimson Tide are the only team to make the field for all three Playoffs, which should mean they know exactly what to expect.

During the inaugural Playoff, Alabama was bounced in the first game by an Ohio State squad riding high on momentum behind its third-string quarterback. Last year, the Crimson Tide blanked an overmatched Michigan State team and then outlasted Clemson in the best championship game since the 2006 Rose Bowl.

Every one of Alabama’s previous Playoff opponents presented a new challenge, but Washington may be the most unique test yet.

That the Crimson Tide are favored so heavily is a testament to just how good they truly are. Perhaps the best Alabama squad in a run of dominance few other programs could even dream of, its strength lies in its versatility, which will be tested greatly by Washington.

A world away from the mighty SEC, the Huskies aren’t a team familiar to many east of the Mississippi. While the Pac-12 hasn’t been a top conference in recent years, Washington has the talent, coaching and mindset to go head to head with the nation’s elite.

Starting at the top, coach Chris Petersen has proven himself as one of college football’s best leaders. He helped Boise State become contenders on a national level and compiled a 92-12 record in his eight seasons with the Broncos.

Petersen now has Washington back among the top programs in the country, and he won’t be afraid of the spotlight in the Peach Bowl. One of the game’s best offensive minds, Petersen has proven time and again he can create dynamic gameplans when given extra time to work with his team.

Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

The Huskies have a plethora of skills for Petersen to utilize. It all starts with quarterback Jake Browning, a legitimate Heisman candidate who is capable of attacking every part of a defense.

Against Stanford and Colorado, two top 20 defenses, Browning threw for a combined 328 yards and 5 touchdowns with no interceptions. Alabama is far and away the best defense that Washington will face, though, and few quarterbacks have had success against the Tide.

What makes Washington a different team than those Alabama has faced in years past, however, is its depth and versatility. Browning is complemented by some talented skill players.

John Ross is one of the nation’s most explosive wide receivers. He has over 1,000 yards on the season with 17 touchdowns and has been clocked at a blistering 4.25 seconds in the 40-yard dash. Ross’s fellow receiver, Dante Pettis, has nearly 800 yards of his own and 14 touchdowns. The duo is likely the most talented that the Crimson Tide have faced this year.

Alabama has yet to go up against a Playoff team with this type of playmaking ability at wide receiver. The Huskies’ offense isn’t just reliant on a passing game, however. They have two reliable running backs as well.

Myles Gaskin leads Washington with 1,339 yards and 10 touchdowns, and he averages nearly six yards per carry. Gaskin has topped 100 yards six times this season and all but one of those century-mark performances came on less than 20 carries.

The Huskies are able to keep Gaskin fresh because of Lavon Coleman’s presence. Coleman has 836 yards and seven touchdowns this season while averaging 7.8 yards per carry.

Washington is No. 31 in passing offense and No. 36 in rushing this season. Clemson is the only Playoff squad Alabama has played with better balance, but the Tigers didn’t have the same type of variety that these Huskies do.

Defensively, Washington is similarly flexible. The Huskies lead the nation with 33 takeaways, are 11^th in total defense, 19^th in rush defense and 21^st against the pass.

The secondary is the Huskies’ major strength on defense, led by juniors Budda Baker (below) and Sidney Jones. Washington State, the nation’s second-best passing offense, gained 269 yards through the air and threw three interceptions while averaging 5.4 yards per pass against Washington. The Huskies were equally effective against Cal, which also boasts a top-5 passing attack.

Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports

To beat Alabama, though, a team needs to match up well in the trenches. Washington may be able to do just that. The Huskies’ defensive line gets to the quarterback at an impressive rate, about three times per contest, and allows under 3.5 yards per carry to opposing backs.

With each of the Crimson Tide’s previous Playoff opponents, there have been notable strengths and weaknesses. Ohio State’s offense had an inexperienced quarterback and relied heavily on the run game. Michigan State’s offense lacked punch and the Spartans had problems against the pass. Clemson didn’t have terrifying perimeter weapons and was susceptible to explosive plays on defense.

Alabama looks to be the best team in college football this season and one of the most complete in recent memory. The Crimson Tide are talented enough to roll through this year’s Playoff with very little resistance.

While there may not be a team capable of stopping Alabama, the Huskies are a very balanced, versatile squad in their own right. None of Alabama’s former Playoff opponents had this level of talent across the board, and Petersen will have Washington prepared to give the Crimson Tide everything they can handle.