SAN DIEGO — There's no shortage of motivation for the No. 9 Texas and No. 21 Washington in the Holiday Bowl.
Both teams are coming off devastating losses, and the Longhorns have the added burden of having lost last year's Holiday Bowl.
Going into Friday night's game, some Longhorns admit they're still down about their 39-37 loss to Colorado in the Big 12 championship game on Dec. 1 that cost them a shot at playing Miami in the Rose Bowl.
"It was hard, but if you're going to be at Texas and play for championships, you're not going to win them all, and if you don't win one, I'm glad they're down," coach Mack Brown said. "If you ever get so losing's not important to you and it doesn't hurt you, then you shouldn't be playing this game.
"Last year in this Oregon game, they were crushed. And I think that's brought back some memories. We don't want to leave here feeling like we did last year."
Texas lost 35-30 to Oregon in last year's Holiday Bowl. Despite throwing four interceptions, Chris Simms still moved the Longhorns into position to win in the closing minutes, only to watch his receivers drop two passes in the end zone and another pass that might have been a touchdown.
Even though the Holiday Bowl might have the feel of a consolation prize, the Longhorns (10-2) can become just the fifth team in school history to win 11 games if they beat the Huskies (8-3).
Washington is trying to get over the sting of a 65-7 loss at No. 1 Miami on Nov. 24.
Major Applewhite, Texas' career passing leader who's backed up Simms all season, will start his final college game. He earned it after replacing the turnover-plagued Simms in the Colorado game and leading a rally that fell just short.
"We're just trying to treat it like any other position — the guy that gives us the best chance to win at that time, we put in the game, and our guys understand that," Brown said.
Washington coach Rick Neuheisel, a former quarterback, knows what Applewhite brings.
"It is obvious when Major Applewhite goes in the game, the team lifts," Neuheisel said. "That's not a knock on Chris Simms; I think Chris Simms is going to play for a long time.
"The point of the matter is, Major Applewhite knows how to play the position, he knows how to shoulder the blame associated with the position, he knows how to deflect the credit — he deflects it to his teammates. That's why teammates obviously love playing for him."
Washington has an interesting situation at quarterback, where sophomore Cody Pickett has played most of the season with a separated throwing shoulder. Despite the injury, he set a school record with 455 yards passing against Arizona on Oct. 20 and scored the winning touchdown on a 3-yard run with 13 seconds left.
Pickett's toughness shouldn't come as a surprise. He's the son of former rodeo star Dee Pickett and was a rodeo cowboy himself growing up in Idaho.
"As his dad says, he just rubs a little dirt on it," Neuheisel said. "I'm amazed. I've had that injury and I know how painful it is. He's been remarkable in his ability to just do it."
Pickett probably will have surgery in January but isn't thinking that far ahead.
"We've got Texas," he said. "We've got to redeem ourselves from the Miami deal."