CFP Semifinal at the Allstate Sugar Bowl
Date/Time: January 1 at 7:45 p.m.
Location: Caesars Superdome
Where to Watch: ESPN
Are the Longhorns Back?
A long running joke among certain friend groups who care about college football: "Is Texas back?" While harsh, it's true. Prior to this season, the Longhorns had achieved double digit wins just one time since 2009 when Colt McCoy was the quarterback in Austin.
Do you remember the Texas Sugar Bowl win over Georgia where quarterback Sam Ehlinger infamously stated, "We're back," referring to Texas' place in the upper echelon of college football? Then there was the end of the Mack Brown era, the Charlie Strong era, the Tom Herman era, and the first two seasons of the Steve Sarkisian era—all terrible.
Texas is the most overrated and overhyped program in collegiate sports, and they're in for a rude awakening when they join the SEC next season #HornsDown. But, first, Sark gets to face off against his former team, the Washington Huskies. Led by Heisman finalist Michael Penix Jr., the Huskies are 13-0 PAC-12 champions, surviving a gauntlet November en route to the College Football Playoffs.
Sweet Dreams
Despite Texas' well-earned reputation for being soft, the Longhorns have displayed uncharacteristic resilience this season. After starting off 5-0 with a win over Alabama in Tuscaloosa, the Longhorns lost the Red River Rivalry to Oklahoma. An injury to quarterback Quinn Ewers threatened the Texas season, but the Longhorns kept finding ways to win, eking out several close victories in November.
Meanwhile, the Huskies are perfect, thwarting all takers, including Oregon twice, to remain undefeated. It's not always pretty, but they get it done. They could have easily lost six of their last seven games. Yet, here they are—unscathed.
Second year Washington coach Kalen DeBoer is 24-2, so far, and is on the cusp of greatness. The 90th edition of the South's greatest bowl game features two programs in their final years of their former conferences and potentially on the rise in the sport of college football.
Most local SEC fans dislike Texas, even though Arch Manning plays for them, and view them as a threat to LSU. Any time LSU fans get a chance to root against the Longhorns, they usually take it, especially when the stakes are a trip to the national championship.
Prediction
Longhorns ain't back.
Washington 34, Texas 31
