Jayden Daniels, who the Badgers defeated in 2021 Las Vegas Bowl, named Washington starting QB

Former LSU and Arizona State quarterback Jayden Daniels was named the Washington Commanders’ starting quarterback on Monday.

The news comes as no surprise. Daniels excelled since the Commanders had selected him at No. 2 in the 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 one for the 2021 Wisconsin defense — one of the best in program history. It went out in style, holding the Sun Devils to 219 yards and 13 points.

Daniels, a future Heisman winner (2023, LSU) threw for 159 yards and an interception while adding 40 rushing yards.

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 transferred to LSU before the 2022 season. His breakout 2023 campaign ended in a Heisman Trophy.

He is starting Week 1 for a Commanders team 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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