Miami headed to Sun Bowl, again. Will face Washington State, again

Tom D'Angelo, Palm Beach Post
·2 min read
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The Miami Hurricanes may not know who is in charge of the program, but they know they will be playing Washington State in the Sun Bowl.

The Hurricanes are headed to El Paso, Texas, for the third time since 2010 for the Dec. 31 game (12:30 p.m.). Both teams are 7-5. The announcement came Sunday amidst reports that Oregon's Mario Cristobal is nearing a deal that would have him taking over as coach of the football program and Clemson's Dan Radakovich is considering and offer to become Miami's athletic director.

If Cristobal accepts, that would signal the end of Manny Diaz's three-years as head coach. The Hurricanes would then name an interim to coach for the bowl.

More Hurricanes: Clemson's Dan Radakovich emerges in Miami AD search

More Coaching Carousel: Mario Cristobal considering offer to become Miami Hurricanes next football coach

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Miami wide receivers Charleston Rambo (left) and Mike Harley celebrate a touchdown during the first half of the Hurricanes' victory at Duke on Nov. 27. Jaylynn Nash-USA TODAY Sports
Miami wide receivers Charleston Rambo (left) and Mike Harley celebrate a touchdown during the first half of the Hurricanes' victory at Duke on Nov. 27. Jaylynn Nash-USA TODAY Sports

Miami lost to Notre Dame and Washington State in the 2010 and 2015 Sun Bowls (2010, 2015), part of a streak in which the Hurricanes have lost 10 of their last 11 bowl games, dating back to 2008, including four in a row.

Miami's 20-14 loss to Washington State in 2015 is the only other meeting in this series.

Miami's last bowl win was in over West Virginia in the 2016 Russell Athletic Bowl.

Miami was in danger of not making a bowl after starting 2-4. But Diaz rallied the team and it finished 6-1 in the second half of the season, its lone loss in the final seconds at Florida State.

Washington State was second in the Pac-12 North Division with a 6-3 conference record, one game behind Oregon. The game will be Jake Dickert's first as the Cougars' permanent head coach. Dickert was named interim coach after Nick Rolovich was fired Oct. 20 for not complying with a state mandate that all employees be vaccinated for COVID-19.

Dickert was 3-2 as the interim before being promoted last week following WSU's 40-13 victory over rival Washington in the Apple Cup.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Miami Hurricanes to play Washington State in Sun Bowl