Troy Fautanu sent a message to ESPN’s football talking heads following Washington’s College Football Playoff semifinal victory: Turn on the Huskies’ tape and stop doubting UW.

Washington beat Texas 37-31 at the Sugar Bowl on Monday to clinch a spot in the CFP National Championship. Texas tried to pull off a furious rally late in the game, but spotting Washington a 34-21 fourth-quarter lead proved to be too much to overcome. Washington produced 532 yards of total offense and didn’t allow a single sack on Michael Penix Jr.

“I just want to let ESPN know: Watch the film. Like, just watch. All you’ve got to do is turn on the film and you’ll see so you guys don’t make uneducated statements,” Fautanu told Dawgman’s Kim Grinolds as he left the field. “Basketball on grass? Five hundred and thirty-two yards. I’ll see you in Houston.”

Those comments would appear to be a direct response to ESPN’s Booger McFarland.

After the CFP field was announced in early December, McFarland said on a podcast that Washington was the fourth-best team in the field. He ranked Texas as his favorite, Alabama as the second-best team, and then Michigan as the third-best team.

“Here’s the thing you have to wonder if you’re Washington: At some point, when this game is not basketball on grass, can you play big boy football?” McFarland asked. “Can you stop big boy football?”

McFarland was wrong in more ways than one. His top team lost. And his No. 2 lost in overtime to Michigan at the Rose Bowl. As it has done all season, Washington’s pass game proved to be entirely too much to contain.

But the doubt continues despite a 21st consecutive win. Washington opened as an underdog in the national title game against Michigan. The Huskies are 3-0 this season as an underdog.