(Photo: Crescent City Sports)
College Football Playoff
The Sugar Bowl
(3) Texas Longhorns at (2) Washington Huskies
Texas: It’s almost as if they’ve had a bullseye on their backs these last few years and understandably so because they’ve done it all correctly. Recruit, land the big names and they still found a way to fly under the radar behind an Oklahoma Sooners team or the TCU Horned Frogs. When they hired Steve Sarkisian, I didn’t know what to think of the hire to be honest because he was fired from USC as their Head Coach, then Nick Saban hired him the Offensive Coordinator at Alabama for a few seasons, then he took the job in Austin. What a season Sark and his football team had this year and the tone setting win for them came in week two against the Alabama Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa of all places. The key difference in that game was Quinn Ewers who played in the entire game compared to the first meeting in 2022 when he got hurt. Honestly, we should be talking about them beating Alabama in consecutive seasons. Just as any team would, the Texas Longhorns had their share of dramatic moments this season. They even lost Quinn to a shoulder injury and you saw the difference without him compared to how they looked with him. Outside of their performance in Tuscaloosa, I love what I saw from them in the final Big-12 conference title game. The offense was locked in, the Offensive Line was pushing Oklahoma State around up front and the offense got whatever they wanted and when they wanted. This is the best Texas team I’ve seen since 2009 and how coincendential, that happened to be the season when they made it to the National Championship game. This is a tough football team and I say that because they have a balanced offensive attack and they can make you a one-dimensional football team. On Monday night, they will make their College Football Playoff debut!
Washington: After the regular season win against the Oregon Ducks, I’ve referred to them as the “cardiac kids” because every game after that has had you all (myself included) on the edge of our seats. The wins may have not been impressive per se, but they were just that, wins. I’ve seen so many people say that Michael Penix Jr didn’t deserve to be a Heisman candidate at all this year and it makes me laugh because some are just a bit off when it comes to talking football in general. I’ll silence those critics with saying this. The Washington Huskies aren’t in the position without the services of number nine so let’s calm that down by all means please. First, let’s give all the credit in the world to Kalen DeBour. He was named Coach of the Year and helped lead this team to one of the best seasons in recent memory. I could watch this passing attack all day long if the opportunity presented itself and I mean that too. Washington has had one of, if not, the elite Quarterback/Receiver tandem in the league in Michael Penix Jr and Rome Odunze. When I watch Rome, I see a few comparisons I can make. He might be smaller, but I see some Mike Evans in his game with his ability to create and separate himself down the field with the ability to break back in and run to the ball to make the catch. To be that trusted target for your Quarterback, you need to have just that and that’s the trust of your Quarterback and anytime Michael needed that big-time catch, Rome delivered and answered whenever his number was called. What concerns me is the their defense and how they give up too many big plays down the field for my liking. Even in the win against Oregon in the Pac-12 title game, I wasn’t impressed and I say that because they were off to a strong start only to allow the Ducks to climb back into the game. When you build up a lead, you keep your foot on the gas. They return back to the field on Monday night.
Texas X-Factor: T’Vondre Sweat– For his efforts this year, T’Vondre was named the recipient of the Outland Trophy. That’s the award given to the nation’s best interior Defensive Lineman. The impact T’Vondre has on this Longhorns defense can’t be unnoticed. He’s the anchor of a rushing defense that allowed 80 yards per game and he’s that interior defender you all have heard me describe. I’m talking about the interior guy that does all the dirty which benefits his teammates around him. T’Vondre commands many double teams which allows the pass rushers to get hot and get home. Watch for this on Monday night.
Washington X-Factor: Edefuan Ulofoshio– He was a finalist for the Butkus award and he was an All-American this season. This is a name to watch for this defense. He was named a captain at the beginning of the year and has been all over the field for this Huskies defense. Edefuan is a tackling machine and is second on the team in tackles with 83. He also has three sacks to his stat line this year. I see a ballhawk when I watch this young man play. He always finds his way to the football. Along with fellow Linebackers Carson Bruener and Alphonzo Tuputala, this gives the Huskies not just one of the groups of Linebackers in the Pac-12, but in the country.
Final Thoughts: This should also be a fun one! Two offenses that can push the football up and down the field anchored by two of the best Quarterbacks in the country. We also have two very elite Wide Receivers in this game in Rome Odunze and Xavier Worthy. The key for Texas is their pass defense and can they keep Penix Jr from converting in late down situations? For most of the year, Penix has been able to keep that Washington offense on the field by converting on third down in the air. The key matchup in this game is the Texas secondary against Odunze and Polk. Can the Horns keep those two from making the explosive plays down the field? I’ll be paying close attention to that and they better get home to him. Oklahoma State applied absolutely no pressure on Quinn Ewers and you see what he can do when he has the time from the pocket. Look at the Red River Showdown. Oklahoma sacked Quinn a total of five times! Washington must amp up their pass rush if they have any shot of winning this football game. I can see both passing attacks getting into rhythms. Where Texas has the edge is defensively and that’s what will carry them in this game. I’m picking the Longhorns to win and move on to Championship Monday Night in Houston of all places.
Prediction: Texas 35, Washington 31
