**Rob Gronkowski Hosts LA Bowl as Washington Huskies Take on Boise State Broncos**
INGLEWOOD — Rob Gronkowski stumbled around the podium, nearly falling off balance to his left before plopping into a chair behind Washington and Boise State helmets and jerseys. “It’s going to be a great game; we got two solid teams,” said the former New England Patriots star tight end, who is the enigmatic and energetic host of the Bucked Up LA Bowl between the Huskies and Broncos at 5 p.m. Saturday at SoFi Stadium.
“I’m already drunk,” Gronkowski joked about his entrance mishap.
The LA Bowl, in every way, is all about “Gronk.” Over the next seven minutes, the NFL on Fox analyst previewed his rematch against Blitz, the Broncos’ tee dog who retrieves the kickoff tees. Gronkowski plans to retire at the season’s end after defeating Blitz in the 2022 edition between UCLA and Boise State. He also rambled on about Washington coach Jedd Fisch’s move from his alma mater, Arizona, to Seattle.
“Jedd betrayed us at Arizona,” Gronkowski quipped just seconds before Fisch awkwardly entered the room.
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### Washington Huskies Aim High Under Jedd Fisch
Washington (8-4, 5-4 Pac-12) is in its second season under Fisch, the Arizona-born head coach now leading the Huskies. The team finished with four losses this year, three of which came against notable Pac-12 leaders such as No. 2 Ohio State, No. 18 Michigan, and No. 5 Oregon.
Compared to last year’s 6-7 campaign, the Huskies have improved significantly — thanks in large part to true sophomore quarterback Demond Williams Jr. Williams is one of the nation’s best dual-threat signal callers and helped lead Washington to a 23rd ranking in total offense.
During the LA Bowl media day on Friday, Fisch stated Washington’s goal is to compete for a College Football Playoff berth. Although he didn’t state it explicitly, Fisch clearly intends for the Huskies to move beyond just lower-tier Pac-12 bowl games.
Fisch also reported zero opt-outs and no injuries ahead of Saturday’s game. When asked about recent coaching carousel rumors, including Michigan’s opening after Sherrone Moore’s firing, Fisch reaffirmed his commitment to Washington through the 2026 season.
“I expect to be here,” Fisch said confidently.
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### Boise State Broncos Chase Another Bowl Victory
Boise State (9-4, 6-2 Mountain West) earned their spot in the Mountain West’s top bowl game after defeating UNLV 38-21 to capture the conference title last week. While Group of Six programs like Tulane and James Madison are making first-round contests in the College Football Playoff next week, the Broncos have been playing towards the LA Bowl as their ultimate goal for the 2025 season.
“We’re no different than I’m assuming almost every football program around,” said Boise State coach Spencer Danielson. “You want to win your conference championship, and then you always want to win your bowl game, and that’s our goal. We haven’t done that at Boise State since 2017, so it’s been a long time.”
Offensively, the Broncos are led by quarterback Maddux Madsen, who has thrown for 2,283 yards with 18 touchdowns and seven interceptions. On the ground, Boise State relies on a dynamic one-two punch featuring tailbacks Dylan Riley and Sire Gaines, who have combined for 1,886 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns this season.
Two years ago, Gaines was watching the LA Bowl as an incoming freshman from Orange Vista High in Riverside. This Saturday, playing in front of a hometown crowd—about half of the team is from the region, according to Danielson—it’s Gaines’ turn to shine in the LA Bowl.
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### LA Bowl Details
– **Matchup:** Washington Huskies (8-4) vs. Boise State Broncos (9-4)
– **When:** 6 p.m. Saturday
– **Where:** SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA
Stay tuned for a thrilling contest as two solid teams clash in what promises to be an exciting conclusion to the college football season.
https://www.dailybreeze.com/2025/12/12/la-bowl-washington-and-boise-state-aim-to-go-out-on-top/