College Football Playoffs: Texas or Washington – Who will make their first CFB Championship game?
The Washington Huskies (13-0) have been fantastic this season, boasting an unbeaten record and one of the hottest offenses in the college football world. They take on the Texas Longhorns (12-1) in the Sugar Bowl with a place in the CFB Championship game, against one of the Alabama Crimson Tide or the Michigan Wolverines, on the line.
Washington were heavy underdogs when they faced Oregon last time out and they overcame the Ducks in a 34-31 win. Early on in the season, the Longhorns beat Alabama who also have made the CFB semifinals so they are another serious threat. These two did meet in the Alamo Bowl last year with Washington winning 27-20.
The Huskies have opened as the underdogs again this time but only just with people fully aware of what their offense can produce.
Washington Huskies
Quarterback Michael Penix Jr. has been a star this season for the Huskies. He was the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy, the highest of any Washington player in history. Penix finished the season as the nation’s leading passer with 4218 yards and 33 touchdowns. Give him the third-leading receiver in the nation in Rome Odunze with 1428 receiving yards then that shows you exactly why the Huskies are unbeaten. They will need both on top form to beat this stellar Texas team.
It has been a great season for Washington but not an easy one to say the least. Their last four games have all been one-score games and across the season seven of their 13 wins have been by one score. The offense is lights out, 11th ranked averaging 37.7 points per game, but the defence is where they can be exploited. They give up 23.6 points per game and this Texas team is also strong in possession of the ball and so the Huskies need to step up if they want to make their first ever CFB Championship game.
Penix and Odunze are both the key players for the Huskies, but fellow receiver Ja’Lynn Polk and running back Dillon Johnson both contribute to this offense. Polk finished the regular season with 1000 yards and eight touchdowns, just another top weapon for Penix to look for in the passing game. Johnson had a strong rushing season, scoring 14 touchdowns and registering 1113 yards.
For Washington to come out victors, the offense needs to operate as normal and the defence will need to find a way to contain Texas, otherwise their season will end in heartbreak.
Texas Longhorns
The Longhorns head into this game also with a red-hot offense. They were one of the teams potentially going to miss out with Florida State having an unbeaten season and still missing out controversially. Texas turned up the heat in the run-in of the regular season, scoring 57 against Texas Tech and then put up 49 against Oklahoma State in the Big 12 title game.
Offensively they aren’t far behind Washington, averaging 36.2 points per game and 475.9 yards per game. On the defensive side they are stronger, holding their opponents to 17.5 points per game, the 13th lowest in all of college football. Quarterback Quinn Ewers threw for 3161 yards and 21 touchdowns. The big problem for Texas is the absence of running back Jonathon Brooks, who ran for 1139 yards.
They will look to take advantage of Washington’s defence. Receivers Xavier Worthy and Adonai Mitchell went for 969 and 813 yards respectively and will give the Huskies secondary some serious problems. Tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders is one of the highest ranked in the country and his 607 receiving yards on the season just adds another string to this offensive bow that Ewers has available to him.
Texas’ offense will need to put up plenty of points to win this. Both teams are great at scoring points but with Washington’s defence being porous at times, the Longhorns have the weapons to win.
My pick
Washington have had a terrific season and Penix has been brilliant. Offensively they will cause Texas problems, but I think their unbeaten season comes to an end here. It will be shootout for sure and I think Texas have just enough defensively to get a stop or two.
From a neutral’s standpoint it will be a fantastic game of two high-powered offenses and so many great weapons on both rosters. The defences of both are not the strongest but the Longhorns are clearly stronger and I think that means they can progress.
Both teams will be nervous as neither have made a CFB Championship game and so it could go either way. I would love to see Penix play for the title, but I am going for a 41-35 Texas Longhorns win.
Game Details
The game is being held at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans. Kick off is at 8:45pm ET (1:45am GMT) on Tuesday 2nd January. UK viewers can watch the game live on the Sky Sports NFL channel.
