Sugar Bowl Review: Washington outduel Texas in wild shootout
Caesars Superdome – New Orleans
Texas 31 – 37 Washington
Washington entered the Sugar Bowl on a twenty-game winning streak but were still considered underdogs against their soon to be SEC opponents Texas. The Huskies’ haven’t made it easy for themselves all season but they do get the job done, as demonstrated by their recent streak including ten consecutive victories by a margin of ten points or less. That pattern continued in the Superdome as Texas did their best to match Washington in a game that came down to the wire.
Heisman runner-up Michael Penix Jr. put on an electric passing performance, the fourth best in College Football Playoff history, with 430-yards and two touchdowns. Penix and his elite band of receivers seemed to be completely in tune with each other, clearly illustrated on Washington’s first drive when Penix dropped the ball over Ja’Lynn Polk’s shoulder and into his hands as he ran a deep post route for a 77-yard gain. Dillon Johnson was able to punch it in on the ground for 2-yard touchdown.
That set the tone for how Penix and the Huskies would approach the rest of the game. The receivers knew where to be and Penix knew where to put it. Ja’Lynn Polk and Rome Odunze both finished with well over a hundred yards apiece. Whilst it was Polk and Jalen McMillan who accounted for Washington’s two passing touchdowns, Odunze’s ability to know exactly where the ball was and pull it in through tight coverage was nothing short of phenomenal. Now he is on a national stage, Odunze’s name is being thrown around with the likes of Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers, and rightly so.
Texas’ offense appeared equally as strong, matching each of Washington’s touchdowns in the first half. However, the Longhorns’ attacking strength came more on the ground than through the air, with three of their four touchdowns coming courtesy of running backs CJ Baxter, Jaydon Blue and Byron Murphy. That’s not to say that QB Quinn Ewers wasn’t dangerous through the air as he accounted for 318-yards and touchdown to Adonai Mitchell as he tried to keep pace with Penix.
Things slowed down for Washington in the second half and they found the endzone only once as Penix sent a laser between two defenders to hit McMillan in the endzone. The Huskies found themselves settling for field goals rather than touchdowns after that score but were able to stay ahead due to their ten first downs compared to Texas’ one. They also maintained the buffer thanks to two Longhorns fumbles. Bralen Trice was an unstoppable force as, along with his two sacks, he knocked the ball out of Baxter’s hands to be recovered by Asa Turner. That play led to a 26-yard Grady Gross field goal but Blue’s fumble led only to a Washington punt.
Following that punt, Ewers and the Texas offense went to work. After a nice sideline pass to Xavier Worthy for a 21-yard gain, Ewers was able to find Mitchell for a one-yard jumping touchdown grab in the corner of the endzone as he leapt over Elijah Jackson in coverage.
Washington responded with another FG following a screen pass to McMillan and another ridiculous over the shoulder catch down the sideline from Odunze. Ewers then had a pass batted down on third and four as Texas had to settle for a field goal to bring the score to 31-37.
Washington recovered the subsequent onside kick but went three and out as they tried to drain the clock on the ground. Johnson was hurt on the last play meaning that the clock stopped, affording Texas more time for a potential game winning drive. Ewers hit Jordan Whittington, beating Jabbar Muhammad in single coverage, for huge gain down to the Washington 28-yard line with thirty seconds remaining. Ewers then found Blue who reeled it in on the sideline at the 12-yard line as a potential game winning score crept ever closer. Texas found themselves on fourth and eleven with just one second left on the clock. Ewers went back to Mitchell, who beat Jackson for the previous touchdown, lobbing it up to the back corner. This time Jackson knew what was coming, leaping above Mitchell to swipe the ball away and out of bounds, dashing the Longhorns’ hopes and sending the Huskies to the National Championship game in Houston.
Speaking after the game Penix stated “The job’s not finished.” We’ll see if Washington can finish the job and beat Rose Bowl champions Michigan for the title when they meet in Houston on Monday night. Michigan will enter as favourites, but Washington will be bringing the ‘dawg’ mentality they have used to overcome the odds all season.