Former LSU and Arizona State quarterback Jayden Daniels was named the Washington Commanders’ starting quarterback on Monday.
The news comes as no surprise. Daniels had excelled since the Commanders selected him at No. 2 overall in the recent 2024 NFL draft.
Related: Every former Wisconsin Badger currently on an NFL roster entering 2024 training camp
We tend to make a Wisconsin connection to the big news of the day, which is why it’s time to revisit the time the Paul Chryst-led Badgers defeated Daniels, then at Arizona State, in the 2021 Las Vegas Bowl.
The game was the final for the 2021 Wisconsin defense — one of the best in program history. It went out in style, holding the Sun Devils to only 219 and 13 total points.
Daniels, a future Heisman winner (2023, LSU) threw for only 159 yards and an interception in the game, while adding 40 rushing yards.
.@BadgerFootball upped its lead to double digits late in the 1st quarter with this 7-yard pass from Graham Mertz to Jake Ferguson, who was wide open in the back of the end zone.
14-3 Wisconsin#LVBowl | #OnlyVegas pic.twitter.com/YLpPx5e7YF
— Modelo Vegas Kickoff Classic (@LasVegasBowl) December 31, 2021
Wisconsin iced the contest with a classic 10-minute, 0-point clock-killing drive late in the fourth quarter. It was one of the final wins of the Paul Chryst era, which then ended after a Week 4 loss to Illinois the following season.
In hindsight, the Badgers defeated one of the best quarterbacks in the sport.
Daniels went on to transfer to LSU before the 2022 season before a breakout 2023 campaign that ended in a Heisman Trophy. He is starting Week 1 for a Commanders team that is looking for a new direction under new head coach Dan Quinn. It’s safe to say Daniels has improved greatly since the meeting with the Badgers almost three years ago.
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