The upcoming Sugar Bowl matchup on January 1 between the Texas Longhorns and the Washington Huskies is generating buzz, and one area where the Longhorns seem to have an edge is in College Football Playoff (CFP) experience among their coaching staff.

Steve Sarkisian, along with several members of his staff, brings a wealth of CFP experience to the table, having been involved in a total of 15 games. Most of this experience was gained during their time working with the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, alongside former Nick Saban assistants Kyle Flood, Jeff Banks, and Bo Davis. Additionally, they have also garnered experience from appearances with Notre Dame and, interestingly, Washington.

Comparatively, the Husky coaching staff, led by Kalen DeBoer, lacks any CFP experience. None of the Washington coaches have been involved in a single game in college football’s postseason tournament.

Sarkisian, who has personally coached three games in the CFP, stepped in as Bama’s offensive coordinator in the 2017 CFP final versus Clemson, following Lane Kiffin’s departure. Although the Tide fell to the Tigers in that contest, Sarkisian’s subsequent experience in the 2020 season, coordinating a record-setting Alabama offense on their way to the national championship, has further solidified his CFP credentials. Flood and Banks also gained significant Playoff experience during the 2020 season, with Davis, Pete Kwiatkowski, and Terry Joseph rounding up the collective 15 games of Playoff experience.

On the other hand, DeBoer and his Husky staff, including offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb and defensive coordinator Chuck Morrell, have no Playoff experience. DeBoer, whose coaching career began in the Dakotas before achieving success at Fresno State, has never been involved in the Playoff, and this lack of experience could prove to be a significant factor in the upcoming Sugar Bowl matchup.