FINAL: Washington Huskies Defeat Texas Longhorns in 37-31 Heartbreaker
It is gameday in New Orleans, Louisiana, where the No. 3 Texas Longhorns will face the No. 2 Washington Huskies with a trip to Houston's NRG Stadium and the national championship game on the line.
While it is a rematch of last year's Alamo Bowl, a game in which the Huskies and star quarterback Michael Penix found a way to win, these two aren't the same two teams that did battle in San Antonio.
Dec 29, 2022; San Antonio, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) throws a pass in the 2022 Alamo Bowl against the Washington Huskies at the Alamodome.
Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports
For starters, the Longhorns find themselves back on a national stage for the first time since their loss in the 2009 national title game to the Alabama Crimson Tide.
In their best season since Colt McCoy was under center slinging the football around Darrell K. Royal Texas-Memorial Stadium, the Longhorns enter Monday fresh off a 49-21 dominant Big-12 championship win, which punctuated a 12-1 regular season.
The Huskies will take the field inside Caesars Superdome undefeated and fresh off a season sweep of their rivals, the Oregon Ducks, on their way to the program's 18th conference title.
Who: Texas Longhorns (12-1, 9-1 in Big 12) vs. Washington Huskies (13-0, 13-0 in Big 12)
What: College Football Playoff Semifinal (The Sugar Bowl)
When: Monday, Jan. 1 at 7:45 p.m. CT.
Where: New Orleans, LA - Caesars Superdome (73,000)
Streaming: ESPN Radio: Longhorn Radio Network
Betting Odds: Check out SI Sportsbook
First Quarter
An opening play penalty backed the Longhorns up early. But even after being put behind the chains, they were able to pick up a first down as CJ Baxter found room to run for 16 yards. However, the Longhorns were unable to pick up anything else.
Change of Possession
The Huskies scored with a two-yard rushing touchdown from Dillon Johnson in just four plays as they drove 89 yards. A 77-yard pass from Michael Penix Jr. to Ja'Lynn Polk took the top off the Longhorns' defense and set the Huskies up in scoring position.
TOUCHDOWN HUSKIES
Washington 7, Texas 0
Change of Possession
Texas strikes back, answering Washington's touchdown with one of their own as Jaydon Blue punched the ball into the endzone from five yards out. The drive started with a big 31-yard gain via a screen pass to CJ Baxter
TOUCHDOWN LONGHORNS
Washington 7, Texas 7
Change of Possession
The Texas defense bounces back, forcing a quick three-and-out for the Husky's defense.
Change of Possession
The Longhorns offense goes three-and-out as they were backed by two consecutive penalties on third-down.
Change of Possession
Second Quarter
The Huskies continued to have success through the air; this time, Penix found a pair of big gains, the first being a 29-yard completion to Germie Bernard and another to Rome Odunze for 24 yards. Those two big plays set up a one-yard touchdown run for Dillon Johnson.
TOUCHDOWN HUSKIES
Washington 14, Texas 7
Change of Possession
Despite a Longhorns three-and-out, Washington muffed the punt, which Texas recovered.
Texas makes good on the takeaway, finding the endzone in three plays as Byron Murphy scored on a run from a yard out.
TOUCHDOWN LONGHORNS
Washington 14, Texas 14
Change of Possession
Despite giving up a big 52-yard pass to Rome Odunze, the Longhorns are able to get a stop, with a turnover on downs as the Huskies went for it on fourth-and-one.
Change of Possession
After Blue picked up 12 yards and a first down on the first play, they couldn't gain much else before another punt.
Change of Possession
The Huskies put together another scoring drive, this time after nine plays as Penix found Polk for a 29-yard touchdown pass that was tipped by a Texas defender but it bounced right into the hands of the Washington receiver.
TOUCHDOWN HUSKIES
Washington 21, Texas 14
Change of Possession
In need of a score, the Longhorns found it as Ewers led them on a 10-play drive, which included a 21-yard run from him that set up the CJ Baxter three-yard rushing touchdown.
TOUCHDOWN LONGHORNS
Washington 21, Texas 21
Change of Possession
Penix took a knee to send it to half.
Third Quarter
The Huskies start the second-half where they left off in the first as they go 70 yards in eight plays where Penix found Jalen McMillan for a 19-yard touchdown pass.
TOUCHDOWN HUSKIES
Washington 28, Texas 21
Change of Possession
The Longhorns' chance to respond lasted just one play, as the Huskies recovered a Baxter fumble.
Change of Possession
The Longhorns held the Huskies to just a field goal after Washington picked up just one first down on the drive
FIELD GOAL HUSKIES
Washington 31, Texas 21
Change of Possession
Texas didn't do much on this drive before another punt as the Huskies forced a punt.
Change of Possession
Fourth Quarter
A 12-play drive for the Huskies ended with a 40-yard field goal as they extended the lead to 13 points.
FIELD GOAL HUSKIES
Washington 34, Texas 21
Change of Possession
The Longhorns go just four plays before another fumble, this time by Jaydon Blue, which Washington recovered.
Change of Possession
Despite an early defensive pass interference, the Longhorns defense was able to force a stop and a Washington punt.
Change of Possession
Texas gets the touchdown they desperately needed as Quinn Ewers found Adonai Mitchell for a one-yard touchdown pass.
TOUCHDOWN LONGHORNS
Washington 34, Texas 28
Change of Possession
A 10-play Washington drive ends with another field goal as they extend their lead back to two scores.
FIELD GOAL HUSKIES
Washington 37, Texas 28
Change of Possession
The Longhorns managed just a field goal after an eight-play drive where Ewers had just one incompletion. The Longhorns attempted the onside kick but couldn't recover it.
FIELD GOAL LONGHORNS
Washington 37, Texas 31
Change of Possession
The Longhorns defense forced a three-and-out punt and will have 45 seconds with no timeouts to try and score.
Change of Possession
The Texas offense all the way down to the Washington 13-yard line where they took three unsuccessful shots at the end before the end of regulation.
FINAL: Washington 37, Texas 31