Washington held off a late Texas comeback for a thrilling 37-21 win in the Sugar Bowl when quarterback Michael Penix Jr. threw for 430 yards and two touchdowns to help the Huskies advance to the national championship game against Michigan.
The two remaining teams in the CFP will face each other on January 8 in Houston, Texas, in what will be the most decisive Div. I'm playing the season.
For Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian, Monday night's game was particularly difficult considering he began his head coaching career in Washington in 2009, taking over an 0-12 team and going 34-29 before leaving for USC in 2014. he ultimately fired in his second season (2015).
The Huskies drew first blood in New Orleans when Washington running back Dillon Johnson had a two-yard rushing touchdown four minutes into the first quarter. Then kicker Grady Gross converted the extra point – his first of seven total attempts.
The Longhorns answered right back, however, as running back Jaydon Blue made a 5-yard run into the end zone to tie the score, 7-7. It took seven plays and 75 yards in 3:55 minutes for the Longhorns to finally get on the scoreboard. Kicker Bert Auburn converted the first of three extra points.
Michael Penix Jr. completed 29 of his 38 passing attempts to beat Texas in New Orleans, LA
Johnson scored his second touchdown of the game two minutes into the second quarter to put Washington ahead again, 14–7, before Texas lineman Byron Murphy II took a handoff and rushed across the goal line for a one-yard touchdown . , as the Longhorns tied the game for the second time in the first half.
Then Washington threw quarterback Penix Jr. a 29-yard touchdown pass – his first of the night – to wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk with 1:27 left before halftime. The Huskies thought they would go into the break with the lead, only for C.J. Baxter to rush for a three-yard touchdown run for a 21-21 score as both teams shared the honors even after two quarters.
Wide-leg Jalen McMillan gave Washington the lead four and a half minutes into the third quarter on a 19-yard pass from Penix Jr. Gross converted the extra point — his fourth of the night — before a Texas fumble gave the Huskies some breathing room, though they couldn't pounce, resulting in just a field goal to extend their lead to 31-21.
Washington started with the ball in the fourth quarter but could not convert on their first third down of the last 15 minutes, as Gross converted a 40-yard field goal to increase the score by two touchdowns (34-21).
With 7:23 remaining, Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers finally had his first touchdown pass of the night to Adonai Mitchell for a yard, before Auburn converted the extra point to cut Washington's lead to 34-28.
Washington responded with a 27-yard field goal through Gross with 2:40 remaining as they increased their lead by three to make the score 37-28. With 1:09 left, Auburn's 25-yard field goal brought Texas back to make it a one-touchdown game.
In a frantic finish to cap the second CFP semifinal of the evening, Ewers and the rest of the Longhorns offense couldn't find a way to get past the Huskies at the 13-yard line with 30 seconds left.