Washington's Offensive Line Will Be Major Test For Texas Front 7
The Texas Longhorns are just 15 days away from taking part in their first College Football Playoff game in program history.
Lining up opposite them will be a familiar foe in the Washington Huskies, who beat Texas 27-20 in the Alamo Bowl in 2022.
However, 2023 is a different animal, with the Longhorns fielding a vastly improved roster, including arguably the best defensive line in college football.
How good are the Horns up front? Texas currently allows the fourth-fewest rushing yards per game (80.8) in the country during the regular season, thanks in large part to the All-American tandem of Byron Murphy and T'Vondre Sweat, who are buoyed on the outside at edge by talents like Baryn Sorrell, Ethan Burke, Anthony Hill, Justice Finkley, Jett Bush and Alfred Collins.
Washington Huskies offensive lineman Troy Fautanu (55) celebrates after the Huskies scored against the Oregon Ducks during the first quarter at Allegiant Stadium.
Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
In fact, the eight of those players have combined for 27.5 of the Longhorns 32 team sacks.
That said, the Huskies are no slouches up front, either, possessing one of the top offensive lines in the nation themselves.
As it stands the Huskies have allowed just 11 sacks, which ties them for the fifth-best mark in the country - which has been led by star left tackle Troy Fautanu who was named All Pac 12 for the second year in a row.
And while they also do not possess eye-popping run-game stats - ranking 100th in the country with 125.23 yards per game - they also average a whopping 4.52 yards per carry.
In other words, the line is adept at opening up holes for the running game when they are called upon.
That was on full display vs. Oregon in the Pac-12 title game when the Huskies imposed their will in the running game behind a bullying performance from Dillon Johnson to the tune of 28 carries for 152 yards and two touchdowns.
At the Sugar Bowl, the Huskies' offensive line will try to do the same against the Longhorns' defensive front, which might turn out to be the most interesting positional matchup of the game.
