ATLANTA -- Washington coach Chris Petersen spent this month playing up how tough a challenge it is facing Alabama while reveling in the underdog role.
"We've gone deep into their equipment staff, their maintenance crew and I think they're the best there, too," Petersen said. "You know, they're ranked No. 1 for a reason. I don't think they do have a weakness."
Yes and no. Petersen isn't wrong about the stiff challenge facing the Huskies to pull off the upset. But surely we've seen enough college football bowl surprises through the years to rule out the possibility. Here are some keys that will help determine the outcome.
1. Can Washington force several turnovers vs. Jalen Hurts? The Huskies lead the country in forced turnovers and turnover margin. Given how good Alabama's defense is, the Huskies absolutely need to force some turnovers to create a shorter field for their offense.
On those rare occasions when the Crimson Tide have lost in recent years, they've turned the ball over. Quarterback Jalen Hurts is brilliant with his legs and composure, and he does rank 13th nationally in completion percentage (65.3 percent). But he's also a true freshman with a limited passing playbook, so you never know exactly how he'll react to the situation. The month off may have helped Hurts become more comfortable in the offense and allowed offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin to open up the playbook more.
If the Peach Bowl becomes a field-position game, forget it for the Huskies. Alabama easily wins that type of game. Washington must swing field position, and the best chance to do that is by forcing turnovers. If Hurts struggles, the Huskies' ball-hawk defense could make him pay.
2. Alabama's advantage with its front seven: Can Washington hold up blocking Alabama? Until now, the most athletic defense the Huskies faced was USC, which won 26-13 on Nov. 12. The Trojans held Washington to 17 rushing yards on 27 carries as quarterback Jake Browning completed 17-of-36 passes for 259 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.
Browning will be one of the best quarterbacks Alabama has seen. He has sneaky mobility that Crimson Tide players have noticed. "One thing that Browning doesn't get enough credit for is his versatility," Alabama defensive end Jonathan Allen said. "He's a very athletic running quarterback. So after breaking down the film time after time, you see linebackers and defensive backs missing tackles on him and they're making great throws down the field. That's something that I don't think he gets enough credit for. That's definitely something that we've been practicing for."
The quarterbacks who give Alabama trouble the most are those who can keep plays alive with their feet. That assumes they can stay upright. The Huskies won't be able to outmuscle Alabama's defensive line and linebackers. This is Nick Saban's fastest and most athletic defense. Washington may try to mentally challenge Alabama through different formations and motions. In the early stages of the SEC Championship Game, Florida's offense gave Alabama some problems using this method before the game eventually got out of hand.
3. Who hits more big passing plays? Washington has 30 pass plays of 30 yards or more (tied for ninth nationally). Alabama is right behind with 29 passes of 30+ yards. While everyone questions Hurts as a passer, it's conceivable that he comes out throwing like Jake Coker did in last year's College Football Playoff Semifinal rout of Michigan State in the face of scrutiny.
Washington wide receiver John Ross is a tough matchup. He's a fast receiver who can make some freakish catches and win one-on-one battles deep. Ross has 17 touchdowns on 76 receptions. He's also an elite kick returner.
A problem would arise for Washington if it can't muster any balance in the run game. The Huskies ran for only 0.6 yards per carry against USC. Alabama allows just 2.0 yards a carry (best in the nation). Browning can't hit deep balls if he becomes a sitting duck because Alabama knows he's dropping back to pass on most plays.
4. Trick plays for Washington: What's a big game without Petersen pulling out his bag of tricks? Alabama coaches have been studying several years of Petersen's trick plays, dating back to his days at Boise State. The Huskies probably need to hit on one or two of these plays to effectively move the ball.
Trick plays have another advantage: They can give the underdog confidence. You better believe Saban knows how trick plays helped Petersen's Boise State team stun Oklahoma at the 2007 Fiesta Bowl.
Do the Huskies have a hook-and-lateral, Statue of Liberty or some other trick play they can fool Alabama with this time?
5. Composure: Alabama rarely loses its composure. This is a focused and disciplined team. But let's be honest: The Crimson Tide have rarely been challenged this year. What happens if they find themselves in a tight game through three quarters? How would they react as the pressure mounts in a game many people expect them to win?
For Washington, composure will be needed against Alabama's defense, especially if it scores. The Crimson Tide lead the nation with 14 non-offensive touchdowns (five interceptions, five fumbles, two punt returns, one blocked punt return). Alabama tends to run away with games after a non-offensive touchdown.
The Huskies would obviously like to avoid facing that scenario where Alabama feeds off the energy. But should it arise, they need to keep their cool and not let the moment become too big.