Tag: washington huskies football

Sugar Bowl could be Texas DC Pete Kwiatkowski’s game to win

Texas vs. Washington is a Kwiatkowski game.

The Longhorns season falls into the hands of Texas defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski. In many ways, the team’s chances of winning depend on its defensive play caller. In this case, that’s probably a good thing.

Kwiatkowski’s philosophy is built to stop an offense like Washington. That fact proved true last bowl season when his defense held the high-scoring Huskies to 27 points. In addition, his unit limited Washington quarterback Michael Penix to 5.3 yards per attempt with his leading receiver amassing 58 receiving yards.

The Washington offense was more explosive last year than it is this season. Penix threw for over 400 more yards in 2022 without a Pac-12 title appearance. In last year’s Alamo Bowl, Kwiatkowski shut them down. Texas’ offense didn’t produce.

We don’t expect the Texas offense to no show this season. As we noted before, the Washington defense is remarkably poor. In particular, the team is far more vulnerable than Texas is against the pass. Simply capitalizing on opportunities can keep the Longhorns offense moving the football.

The challenge will come on defense. Stop the pass, and Texas probably wins the game.

The Longhorns’ title chances will be entrusted to Kwiatkowski on New Year’s Day. In this matchup, that favors Texas. The Texas defense will look to be the reason the team advances to the next round.

Looking at how Texas can score against Washington in rematch

Texas is built to more effectively move the football than it was last season against Washington.

The Texas offense moved the ball against Washington in last season’s Alamo Bowl. On the surface, it was a statistically strong game for the Longhorns passing offense and quarterback Quinn Ewers.

Ewers threw for 369 passing yards in the game completing 31 of 47 passes against the Washington defense. Those numbers were fine, but not enough to get the ball in the end zone.

Texas scored two touchdowns against Washington a year ago. One came on a screen pass to Jonathon Brooks with another on a three-yard run by Brooks.

Several plays sabotaged scoring drives. An errant throw by Quinn Ewers resulted in a missed conversion on a slant to Texas receiver Xavier Worthy. A Worthy drop forfeited what could have been a long touchdown completion.

Credit the Washington defense for what it did limiting the Texas offense last year. The Huskies defense forced the Longhorns to be one-dimensional holding the Texas rush offense to 51 yards on 18 carries.

Despite Washington’s defensive effort, the Longhorns’ missed opportunities were nearly as much to blame as anything their opponent accomplished. Cashing in when it counts will play a huge role in the outcome of this game.

Let’s be clear: Washington is a bad pass defense. Certainly, they’re worse than Texas in that category. The Huskies rank No. 120 in the FBS is passing yards allowed (263.2) and No. 101 in yards allowed per attempt (6.57).

In contrast, Texas has perhaps the most complete receiving corps in the nation and a quarterback in Quinn Ewers that isn’t missing near as many opportunities this season. Ewers’ completion percentage is up by more than 12% since last year from 58.1% to a strong 70.7% completion rate.

The Longhorns offense presents a much tougher challenge for the Huskies defense. The playoff semifinal will reveal which side has the advantage in this year’s game.

Addressing the 362-pound problem Washington will face in Sugar Bowl

Washington should have more difficulty blocking this year’s defensive tackle duo.

The Washington Huskies will have a 362 pound problem on their hands on Jan. 1. The team will have to protect its backfield against new-and-improved Texas defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat.

We consistently mention Sweat as a matchup the Longhorns’ next opponent will need to neutralize. He just happens to be a matchup problem more weeks than not.

What advantage does the 362-pounder have over Washington’s well under 300-pound freshman center Parker Brailsford? Aside from size and strength, Sweat has several years of experience in the college game. With that, he’s had several years to perfect technique and leverage and create problems for linemen of various size.

Sweat won’t only face Brailsford in the Sugar Bowl matchup, but his presence will be felt while he is on the field. Fellow defensive linemen Byron Murphy, Barryl Sorrell and Ethan Burke all stand to benefit from the attention he will command.

Texas will look to capitalize on Sweat’s matchup advantages in the College Football Playoff.

One advantage could swing Sugar Bowl in Texas’ favor

This advantage for Texas could create a sizable advantage over Washington.

For several reasons, there’s no telling how the Washington matchup will go for Texas. That said, one tried and true component of football could swing the game in the Longhorns favor.

The Washington Huskies are a great football team. They are 13-0, conference champions and have an argument that their quarterback Michael Penix should have won the Heisman. But Penix has one fatal flaw: he doesn’t protect the football.

Penix has thrown nine interceptions on the season, but if you watched much of Washington’s games you’re aware he’s thrown more passes than that up for grabs. In just the last two games, you probably saw the Washington quarterback luck out of critical mistakes that fell harmlessly to the ground.

Contrast the Huskies’ signal caller and his lackadaisical protection of the football with Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers. The Longhorns quarterback is the opposite of Penix in that regard. Ewers rarely turns the ball over or even puts the ball in harm’s way. The Texas quarterback has six interceptions on the season.

Some would describe Ewers as the college version of what San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy is in the pros. Head coach Steve Sarkisian schemes up easy passes and Ewers simply completes what is already wide open. That sort of playing style is an advantage for Texas who will likely be able to find ways to attack Washington over the next couple of weeks.

The turnover battle can swing a game. If both quarterbacks continue to play like they have so far this season, Texas could increase its margin for error and win off protecting the football.

Texas favored by four points in recent Sugar Bowl odds

One sportsbook favors Texas over Washington by four points.

The Texas Longhorns are solid favorites to win their first playoff game. One sportsbook has Texas favored by four points over the Washington Huskies.

It’s hard to know what to expect from the matchup. Texas and Washington are among the more unpredictable teams in the country. The Longhorns are 7-5 against the spread. The Huskies are 6-6 against the spread according to some sites.

Many believe this year’s matchup will be a high-scoring contest, but that wasn’t the case when the two teams met last season. Texas slowed Washington’s elite passing attack while the Huskies’ stingy defense limited the Longhorns. Washington won 27-20.

Among other New Year’s Six lines, Oregon is favored by 16 points over Liberty in the Fiesta Bowl. Penn State is a 3.5-point favorite over Ole Miss. Florida State is a two touchdown underdog against Georgia, and Missouri is a 2.5-point favorite against Ohio State.

The Michigan Wolverines are a surprising 1.5-point favorite over the Alabama Crimson Tide in the other College Football Playoff semifinal. Facing Michigan would likely bode better for Texas than having to beat Alabama twice in one season. The Longhorns will need to get past Washington for that to matter.

The New Year’s Six will kick off on Dec. 29 between Missouri and Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl.

Could Texas actually win a national championship this season?

College football media are hyping up the Longhorns chances in the 2023 playoff.

Could the Texas Longhorns win a national championship this season? That’s the question many are asking in regard to the team after making its first ever College Football Playoff. It’s a fair question to ask.

Among the four playoff teams, many believe the Alabama Crimson Tide is playing the best football of the four. Texas beat that Alabama team by 10 points in Tuscaloosa. They could have beaten them by 17 if not for moving early to victory formation on the Alabama 32-yard line.

Advanced stats analysts appear to like the Longhorns to make a playoff run. Texas also has built in advantages in its favor. After facing the Washington Huskies in New Orleans, a much shorter trip for Texas than Washington, the Longhorns would play for a title in Houston should they reach the game.

Many look at Texas as a viable threat to make the championship game. And in its last two games, the Longhorns have been the most dominant team in college football according to Brad Crawford.

Texas’ title chances increase dramatically should the team not have to face the No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide. The two teams have met twice over the last year and a half. Even though Texas proved itself better than the Tide this year, Alabama will have as much film on the Longhorns than they have of any SEC opponent they faced over the last two seasons.

Texas is favored to beat Washington, but it won’t be an easy win. The Huskies beat the Longhorns last season, 27-20. That said, given the talent and coaching it has present on the team, Texas has about as good a chance as any playoff team to win the national championship.

Oregon’s 2023 regular season was almost exactly like USC’s 2022 regular season

Oregon and USC can relate to each other.

The Oregon Ducks’ 2023 regular season was a virtual copy of USC’s 2022 regular season in Pac-12 football. The only aspect of these two seasons which was different: the specific opponent which ruined everything.

Utah was the nemesis for USC last year. Washington was the nemesis for Oregon this year. However, everything else was fundamentally the same: 2022 USC failed to beat only one team in its regular season. 2023 Oregon failed to beat only one team in its regular season. However, that one team was a real pain in the neck.

That one team — 2022 Utah — beat 2022 USC twice.

That one team — 2023 Washington — beat 2023 Oregon twice.

In 2022, Utah beat USC in the Pac-12 Championship Game and prevented the Trojans from making the College Football Playoff.

In 2023, Washington beat Oregon in the Pac-12 Championship Game and prevented the Ducks from making the College Football Playoff.

There is more to be said about this, and a lot of reactions to process. Here’s a taste of the highly emotional aftermath to Oregon’s loss against Washington in Las Vegas on Friday night:

Social media reacts to Washington vs Oregon in the Pac-12 title

Oregon probably won’t be in the playoff after its second loss.

The No. 5 Oregon Ducks were improperly rated. No. 3 Washington send brought them back to reality in a second defeat of Oregon this season.

We noted this week that teams that cannot beat elite competition probably don’t deserve a chance to play elite competition in the College Football Playoff. Oregon is now 0-2 against teams with a better than 8-4 record.

Washington proved itself as a legitimate title contender in the game. Many are of the belief that its difficult to beat a good team twice. The Huskies made it happen defeating the No. 5 team two times in 2023.

Oregon’s loss likely moves Texas up to No. 6 pending Saturday’s results. A win over Oklahoma State should vault Texas to No. 5, and a Florida State loss would likely put the Longhorns into the playoff.

Here’s how social media took in the game.

Georgia, Michigan, and Washington remain perfect in the latest US LBM Coaches Poll

While the regular season is in the rear view mirror, several contenders Top 10 of the latest US LBM Coaches Poll face off this weekend.

Texas A&M (7-5, 4-4 SEC) finished the 2023 regular season in disappointing fashion, falling 42-30 to No. 13 LSU behind the quarterback and Heisman favorite Jayden Daniels’ four-touchdown performance, as interim head coach Elijah Robinson will finish the year at 1-1, yet a bowl game awaits.

While Texas A&M is way on the outside looking in, the SEC as a whole continued to represent in the newest US LBM Coaches Poll, including Alabama’s last-second miraculous win on the road vs. an unranked Auburn team, who will now take on top-ranked Georgia in the SEC Championship game for a shot at the College Football Playoffs.

The US LBM Coaches Poll is conducted weekly throughout the regular season using a panel of 63 head coaches at Football Bowl Subdivision schools. Each coach submits a Top 25 with a first-place vote worth 25 points, second place 24, and so on, down to one point for 25th.

After finishing the season 0-3 vs. Top 25 teams, leading all three opponents at halftime, the same issue reared its ugly head against the Tigers, as the Aggies held a 24-14 lead at the half, only to be outscored 28-6 the rest of the way. While Texas A&M Athletic Director Ross Bjork continues his search for the program’s 31st head coach, the recent debacle regarding the potential hire of Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops was just plain bizarre.

In the Top 4, Washington rose two spots, while Ohio State dropped four after falling to No. 2 Michigan on Saturday, ending their playoff hopes.

Elsewhere, the top five saw a flip between Michigan and Ohio State, with Georgia (No. 1), Michigan (No. 2), Washington (No. 3), and Florida State (No. 4) round at the top spots.

Here is the full US LBM Coaches Poll following Week 13.

Rank Team Record Points Change
1 Georgia 12-0 1,571 (61) –
2 Michigan 12-0 1,460 (1) +1
3 Washington 12-0 1417 +2
4 Florida State 12-0 1403 +1
5 Oregon 11-1 1278 +1
6 Ohio State 10-1 1250 -4
7 Texas 11-1 1226 –
8 Alabama 11-1 1182 –
9 Missouri 10-2 1034 +1
10 Penn State 10-2 967 +1
11 Ole Miss 10-2 937 +1
12 Oklahoma 10-2 895 +1
13 LSU 9-3 780 +1
14 Louisville 10-2 716 -5
15 Arizona 9-3 681 +1
16 Notre Dame 9-3 602 +1
17 Iowa 10-2 553 +2
18 Tulane 11-1 549 –
19 Oklahoma State 9-3 253 +2
20 North Carolina State 9-3 303 +4
21 Oregon State 8-4 253 -6
22 Liberty 12-0 236 –
23 Tennessee 8-4 209 –
24 SMU 10-2 135 +1
25 James Madison 11-1 79 +5

Schools Dropped Out

No. 20 Kansas State

Others Receiving Votes

Toledo 68; Clemson 64; Utah 54; Kansas State 54; Troy 25; Kansas 15; West Virginia 10; UNLV 4; San Jose State 1; New Mexico State 1;

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty.

Big 12 Bowl Projections: Sooners take on Rising Power in Pacific Northwest in latest Bowl Projections

The Oklahoma Sooners head into the regular season finale still with a shot to make the Big 12 title game. They have to beat TCU on Friday and hope for some good things to go their way, but there’s still a chance. A win over the Horned Frogs would …

The Oklahoma Sooners head into the regular season finale still with a shot to make the Big 12 title game. They have to beat TCU on Friday and hope for some good things to go their way, but there’s still a chance.

A win over the Horned Frogs would give Brent Venables his first 10-win season as a head coach and Oklahoma the bounce-back season they needed heading into the SEC in 2024.

With bowl season right around the corner, the Big 12 has eight teams that have earned bowl eligibility. BYU, UCF, and TCU can all earn bowl bids if they can pick up a win this Saturday.

BYU plays Oklahoma State. A Cougars win and a Sooners win puts Oklahoma in the Big 12 title game.

Here’s a look at the latest Big 12 bowl projections from USA TODAY Sports.