Former Oklahoma State Cornerback Set to Play For National Championship
Oklahoma State’s season may have ended, but a former Cowboy is headed to the national championship game.
After OSU's disappointing finish in 2022, the program looked to be in shambles, with many players leaving Stillwater via the transfer portal. While many were solid contributors for OSU, most have seen minimal action or impact since leaving.
Cornerback Jabbar Muhammad is a glaring exception to that. The skilled defender made the decision to transfer to Washington before the 2023 season, and it has paid off tremendously.
In three seasons with the Cowboys, Muhammad made 71 total tackles in 31 appearances and was a big get for the Huskies in the offseason. In 2022, Muhammad forced a fumble and snagged one interception as a Cowboy, and he carried momentum into this season.
Washington sits at 14-0 after its 37-31 win against Texas in the Sugar Bowl to earn a spot in the College Football Playoff National Championship against Michigan. Without the help of Muhammad, who earned All-Pac-12 Second Team honors this season, Washington may not have made it this far.
In the Huskies’ first playoff game, he defended three passes and came away with two tackles. While that helped, some of his other performances helped the Huskies remain unbeaten throughout the regular season.
His biggest game came against Oregon State as Washington looked to make it to 11-0. Muhammad made two interceptions against Oregon State as his team narrowly escaped with a 22-20 win. He finished with three interceptions this season, his other coming with a 42-yard return against Cal.
After beating Texas for the third straight season, Muhammad will look to continue his great play at corner. With 15 passes defended this season, he ranks first in the Pac-12 and third in the nation.
On Monday, Muhammad will get the opportunity to play for a national championship at NRG Stadium in Houston, the same place OSU finished its season with a win.
Want to join the discussion? Like AllPokes on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to stay up to date on all the latest Cowboys news. You can also meet the team behind the coverage.
Ivan is a sports media student at Oklahoma State University. He has covered OSU athletics since 2022 and also covers the OKC Thunder for Inside The Thunder and Thunderous Intentions.