Texas vs Washington Full Game Replay 2024 CFP Semifinal - Sugar Bowl
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#3 Texas vs #2 Washington Full Game Replay
2023 NCAA College Football - CFP Semifinal - Sugar Bowl
Caesars Superdome
9:00 PM, January 1, 2024
Coverage: ESPN
New Orleans, LA
Line: TEX -3.5
Over/Under: 61.5
Attendance: 68 791
#3 Texas Longhorns vs #2 Washington Huskies What to Watch:
Texas has succeeded under Steve Sarkisian, despite a difficult October and early November during which it lost to Oklahoma and had near misses in conference play. Aside from the setback, their season is similar to Washington's in many respects because the Huskies had to work hard to get results in the latter part of the season. Both teams' dominant performances over conference championship weekend have earned them a meeting in New Orleans in the new year.
Texas is a 4.5-point favorite according to early betting lines, and the Huskies enter the Sugar Bowl as an underdog even if they have a strong case at the top of the rankings.
Washington entered the Pac-12 title game as a 9.5-point underdog against Oregon, so this will be their second straight game as a dog. From now until January 1, Washington will largely play the "nobody believes in us" card. Become accustomed to it.
Interior pass rush is the one thing that neutralizes quarterbacks of all skill levels, from Tom Brady to Michael Penix Jr. It can make it more difficult for quarterbacks to step up into the pocket or execute full throwing motions by forcing them to shift off of their typical throwing platforms, which opens the door for edge rushers to sack them.
Keeping this Washington offense off the field as often as possible is one way to limit it. Texas is capable of explosive plays in the passing game, so that might really work against them. Can Texas successfully grind and pound and attempt to consume clock from the beginning of the game without Jonathan Brooks at running back? Stealing possessions and possibly points on the margins can also be accomplished by adopting the Oregon model of fourth-down aggression.
This season, Texas's inability to complete drives has been their biggest weakness. When playing Washington, one has to assume that the Huskies will score touchdowns. It won't be enough to bring threes to a seven-fight. Because a track meet against the Huskies is undesirable even with their skilled receivers, the Horns must get the ball in the end zone if they enter the red zone.
