Washington has enjoyed a full-circle ascent to the College Football Playoff. When the Huskies square off against No. 1 Alabama in Atlanta on Dec. 31st in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, they'll also reunite with former head coach Steve Sarkisian -- who is now part of Nick Saban's Crimson Tide staff.
Let's take a chronological look back at the key steps the Huskies took on their path to college football's promised land:
1. Washington hires Sarkisian, who delivers the 2013 recruiting class: The Huskies went 0-12 in a dreadful 2008 season, leading to the termination of Tyrone Willingham.