Sugar Bowl: No. 2 Washington vs. No. 3 Texas (CFP semifinal)
Location: New Orleans
Date: 8:45 p.m. ET, Jan. 1
TV: ESPN
Line: Texas -4
Total: 63.5
How these teams got here
Washington (13-0): The Huskies have been incredible in the two seasons of the Kalen DeBoer era. Washington hired DeBoer from Fresno State after a 4-8 season in 2021 and the addition of DeBoer and former Indiana QB Michael Penix Jr. paid immediate dividends. The Huskies made the biggest leap of anyone in college football a season ago and finished 11-2 after beating Texas in the Alamo Bowl.
This year, Washington was even better. Penix became a Heisman finalist as the offense has averaged over seven yards a play. The Huskies started the season with a statement win over Mountain West champion Boise State and then easily dispatched Michigan State before conference play began.
From there, Washington established itself as the best team in a very deep Pac-12. But there were some close calls along the way. Washington needed a missed field goal to avoid overtime in a 36-33 home win over Oregon on Oct. 14 and then looked lethargic the following week in a 15-7 win over Arizona State.
The Huskies didn’t win a game by more than 10 the rest of the season as they beat Oregon State 22-20 in a downpour in Week 12 before needing a last-second field goal to beat in-state rival Washington State to end the regular season.
The Pac-12 title game brought a rematch with Oregon, and Washington jumped out to a big lead before Oregon came back in the second half to go in front. But two touchdowns in the fourth quarter preserved Washington’s undefeated season and sealed a playoff berth in a 34-31 win.
Washington has won 24 games over the last two seasons with QB Michael Penix Jr. and coach Kalen DeBoer. (Photo by Marc Sanchez/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) (Icon Sportswire via…
Source link : https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/sugar-bowl-preview-washington-texas-both-trying-to-end-long-national-title-droughts-203901600.html
Author : Yahoo Sports
Publish date : 2023-12-29 20:39:01
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
