Washington outlasts Texas in the Sugar Bowl in the College Football Playoff semifinals
Washington outlasts Texas, wins Sugar Bowl
No. 2 Washington outlasted No. 3 Texas 37-31 in the Sugar Bowl behind a near-record setting day from Michael Penix. Penix completed 76 percent of his passes for 430 yards and two touchdowns, the fourth-most passing yards in a College Football Playoff game.
The game appeared to be a shootout in the first half after teams answered scoring drives to enter halftime tied 21-21. However, 13 unanswered points from Washington to start the second half let the Huskies pull away.
Washington pulled away behind Penix's big day and wide receivers Rome Odunze and Ja'Lynn Polk both gaining over 100 receiving yards. Defensively, the Huskies forced two pivotal fumbles on two of Texas's first three second-half drives.
Texas rallied late and got a chance for a last-second touchdown after an injury to Washington running back Dillon Johnson stop the clocked with less than a minute to play. However, Texas' game-winning drive attempt ultimately stalled at the Washington 13-yard line as Quinn Ewers' pass to Adonai Mitchell fell incomplete.
Washington has now won 10-straight games by 10 points or less. Click or tap here for stats from the game.
One last chance! Washington 37, Texas 31 | 4Q - 1:09
Huskies get insurance! Washington 37, Texas 28 | 4Q - 2:40
Longhorns cut lead! Washington 34, Texas 28 | 4Q - 7:23
Texas cut Washington's lead to one possession after quarterback Quinn Ewers found wide receiver Adonai Mitchell for a touchdown. Mitchell's touchdown is his fifth in a College Football Playoff game, with his previous four coming in each of his four previous games with Georgia.
Huskies add three! Washington 34, Texas 21 | 4Q - 14:51
Fourth quarter: Washington 31, Texas 21
No. 2 Washington leads No. 3 Texas 31-21 entering the final quarter. Washington scored 10 unanswered points in the third quarter by dominating the time of possesion. Texas only ran five plays to Washington's 22 plays
When play resumes, Washington will have the ball at the Texas 18-yard line facing 3rd-and-5. Up 10 points, the Huskies have a chance to make the Sugar Bowl a three-possesion game.
Two-score lead! Washington 31, Texas 21 | 3Q - 7:44
Washington kicked a 26-yard field goal for the first two-score lead of the Sugar Bowl. The score came after Texas fumbled on it's first second-half offensive play.
Huskies score again! Washington 28, Texas 21 | 3Q
Washington scored on its opening second-half drive as quarterback Michael Penix Jr. found wide receiver Jalen McMillan for a 19-yard touchdown. Penix didn't throw an incompletion on the scoring drive that went 70 yards in eight plays.
Halftime: Texas Ties! Washington 21, Texas 21 | 2Q - 0:17
Shortly before halftime, Texas tied the Sugar Bowl at 21-21. It's the third time the Longhorns have tied the game.
The Longhorns needed only one minute and ten seconds to drive the ball 72 yards to the endzone. Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers went four of six passing for 36 yards while rushing for 26 yards — not counting a personal foul penalty the set Texas up with first-and-goal — on the drive. Ultimately, running back CJ Baxter ran in for a three-yard touchdown to tie the game.
On the ensuing possession, Washington just ran out the clock to go into halftime. The Huskies will receive the second-half kickoff. See first half stats below.
Tip Drill TD! Washington 21, Texas 14 | 2Q - 1:27
Washington wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk showed off his concentration catching a tipped pass for a 29-yard touchdown to put the Huskies back in front. Polk now has 106 yards and a touchdown on two catches. Quarterback Michael Penix only has three incompletions, but has 255 passing yards and a touchdown.
Turnover to Texas Touchdown! Washington 14, Texas 14 | 2Q - 11:45
The first turnover of the Sugar Bowl came of a Washington muffed punt recovered by Texas. The Longhorns take over with possession in Husky territory at the 22-yard line. From there, it took four plays before defensive tackle Byron Murphy II rumbled in for a touchdown.
Huskies back in front! Washington 14, Texas 7 | 2Q - 13:08
Washington running back Dillon Johnson scored his second touchdown of the day, this time from one yard out. It was another drive led by the arm of quarterback Michael Penix Jr. who passed for 56 yards.
First quarter: Washington 7, Texas 7
The first quarter of the Sugar Bowl is in the books. Quick strike drives from both Washington and Texas led to short-yardage touchdowns which have the games knotted at seven yards a piece. Click or tap here for stats from the game
Longhorns respond! Washington 7, Texas 7 | 1Q - 7:06
On Texas' second drive of the game, it found the endzone. Running back Jaydon Blue ran for a five-yard touchdown to cap off an explosive Longhorn drive that saw plays of 31, 13 and 12 yards.
Huskies strike first! Washington 7, Texas 0 | 1Q - 11:01
Washington running back Dillon Johnson scored the first touchdown of Sugar Bowl with a two-yard run. The score came one play after Heisman runner-up quarterback Michael Penix Jr. found wide receiver Ja'Lynn Polk on a 77-yard pass. In total, Washington's scoring drive took four plays and 2:59 off the clock as it went 89 yards.