Background and Lead-up
The 2024 College Football Playoff Sugar Bowl featured the #2 Washington Huskies taking on the #3 Texas Longhorns, with the winner advancing to face #1 Michigan in the national championship game.
Both teams featured star quarterbacks – Washington’s Michael Penix Jr. was coming off a record-breaking season, while Texas’ Quinn Ewers showed flashes of brilliance in his first year as a starter. The teams took very different paths to get to this point:
- Washington was led by head coach Kalen DeBoer, in just his second season after a meteoric rise from FCS head coach to the playoff in two years
- Texas was led by head coach Steve Sarkisian, a former Washington and USC head coach now in his second year rebuilding the Longhorns program
The game shaped up as a contrast in styles and experience levels, setting the stage for a dramatic matchup with high stakes.
First Half Recap
Washington struck first, with Penix finding star receiver Rome Odunze for a 52-yard touchdown to take a 7-0 lead. Texas responded, tying the game on an Ewers TD pass capped by a Bijan Robinson 2-point conversion. The teams traded blows throughout the first half.
Key First Half Plays and Notes:
- Penix and Odunze connected for 2 long TDs showcasing their dangerous chemistry
- Texas scored on a drive kept alive by a fake punt, showing their aggressive nature
- Washington built a 24-17 halftime lead behind a powerful rushing attack led by Wayne Taulapapa and Will Nixon
Second Half Drama
The second half began with both teams exchanging punts, but Washington extended their lead to 31-17 early in the 4th quarter on another Penix TD pass. Then the game took a dramatic turn.
Texas mounted a furious comeback bid behind Quinn Ewers’ precision passing. Two quick TD drives tied the game at 31 with just minutes remaining. Many began to wonder if Texas would pull off a shocking comeback victory.
But Washington, showing incredible poise under pressure, methodically drove down the field in response. Penix found Odunze once again for a big 3rd down conversion to set up Peyton Henry’s go-ahead 36-yard field goal with 21 seconds left.
| Key Drives | Score |
|---|---|
| Washington’s Go-Ahead FG Drive | 32 yards, 6 plays, 1:42 |
| Texas’ Final Drive | Stalls on INT by Asa Turner |
A desperate final drive by Texas ended in heartbreak, as Asa Turner intercepted Quinn Ewers’ deep ball attempt as time expired.
Final Score: Washington 37, Texas 31
Reactions
The improbable comeback bid coming up just short left the Texas coaches and players crestfallen but proud:
“We showed tremendous heart and fight at the end,” Sarkisian said. “I’m so proud of this team even in defeat.”
“It hurts a lot right now but we never stopped battling,” Ewers noted. “We faced a great team and came up one play short.”
The Washington sideline erupted when Turner sealed the victory, sending the Huskies into uncharted national title game territory:
“I can’t even describe the feeling right now,” said an emotional DeBoer after reaching the pinnacle in just his second year. “The poise our guys showed today is special.”
Key Takeaways
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Penix Jr. Cements His Star Status: His outstanding 353-yard, 4-TD performance under intense playoff pressure showed why he was the Pac-12 player of the year. His chemistry with top target Rome Odunze proved lethal.
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Texas Makes a Statement Despite Loss: The Longhorns traded blows all game with a more veteran playoff contender and their furious late comeback left Washington on the ropes. The future remains exceedingly bright in Austin.
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Contrasting Coaching Paths Converge: DeBoer’s perfect playcalling keyed Washington’s win, while Sarkisian had Texas on the doorstep of a program-shifting victory. Both young offensive-minded coaches have their teams ahead of schedule.
This instant classic Sugar Bowl showed off stellar quarterback play, dramatic momentum swings, and aggressive play-calling indicative of the modern college game. For Washington, an opportunity for the program’s first national title awaits. For Texas, the foundation has been laid for a potential championship run of their own in coming years.
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