Huskies will face Oklahoma State in Cactus Bowl

SEATTLE – The Huskies will spend New Year’s Day in warmer climes.

Washington accepted an invitation to play in the Cactus Bowl on Jan. 2 in Tempe, Arizona (7:15 p.m. PT, ESPN), where the Huskies (8-5) will face Big 12 Conference opponent Oklahoma State (6-6).

“We’re really excited to be going down to the Cactus Bowl in Arizona,” Huskies coach Chris Petersen said. “Who doesn’t want to be heading to Arizona this time of year?”

The Cactus has the seventh and final selection among bowls that guarantee bids to eligible Pac-12 teams. Had Arizona not finished high enough to earn a Fiesta Bowl invite, the Huskies would have been pushed out of the Pac-12 bowl picture and into an at-large situation.

This will be UW’s fifth consecutive bowl appearance after missing the postseason from 2003-09. The Huskies are 2-2 in their last four bowl games.