For a second consecutive season, the Washington Huskies and Texas Longhorns will meet in a bowl recreation. Only this time, a visit to the nationwide championship is at stake.
Last yr’s Valero Alamo Bowl supplied loads of offensive fireworks with each groups combining for 865 yards in a 27-20 Huskies win. With such excessive stakes this yr, Monday’s Sugar Bowl matchup will probably be as entertaining, if no more.
Here are three reasons why Texas can beat Washington in the College Football Playoff semifinals:
1. The defensive position
Defensive sort out T’Vondre Sweat, who’s labored his method into the first-round dialog, was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and he gained the Outland Trophy, given yearly to the nation’s high inside lineman. Washington must account for him on each down. Next to Sweat is Byron Murphy II, the Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year and a possible Round 2 draft choose. The duo mixed for 68 pressures, 54 hurries, 16 tackles for loss, seven sacks and 6 QB hits.
As if that wasn’t sufficient for the Huskies offensive line to fret about, the Longhorns even have a powerful rotation of lineman together with defensive ends Ethan Burke, Barryn Sorrell and Jett Bush plus defensive sort out Alfred Collins to throw UW’s method. The foursome mixed for 99 pressures, 67 hurries, 21 QB hits, 18 tackles for loss, 13.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries.
Not solely do the Longhorns generate loads of strain up the center, however additionally they take away operating lanes and primarily construct a wall at the line of scrimmage, which not solely impacts Huskies QB Michael Penix Jr. however operating again Dillon Johnson as effectively.
2. The pass-catchers
While Washington has a trio of athletically gifted wideouts who will all probably be drafted in April, Texas isn’t any slouch on the subject of weapons in the passing recreation. Xavier Worthy headlines an underrated group that additionally options Adonai Mitchell, Jordan Whittington and tight finish Ja’Tavion Sanders — three of whom are top-60 draft prospects.
Worthy leads the crew in receptions (73) and yards (969), and he’s at all times a menace to take a punt return to the home. Mitchell (51 receptions, 813 yards) leads the crew in touchdowns (10), and Whittington put up strong numbers as UT’s No. 3 wideout with 38 catches and 435 yards.
Conversely, Sanders, who had 39 catches for 607 yards and two scores, is arguably the No. 2 TE in the 2024 draft behind Georgia’s Brock Bowers. He completed second in yards per reception (5.6), fifth in receiving yards and yards after the catch (326), and 14th in receptions amongst all tight ends this yr.
3. The teaching employees
While Washington’s Kalen DeBoer has established himself as considered one of the high school coaches over the final two years, Steve Sarkisian has the determined edge in big-game expertise having spent three years in the NFL (one with the Raiders, two with the Falcons) and three seasons as an offensive analyst after which offensive coordinator at Alabama, the place he gained a nationwide title in 2020 and coached in one other in 2016.
Beyond Sarkisian’s intensive expertise, the remainder of the Texas teaching employees has a mixed 15 video games of expertise teaching in the CFP, whereas Washington’s employees has none.
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