NEW ORLEANS — In the build-up to the Sugar Bowl semifinals, Washington played the disrespect card at every turn. Kalen DeBoer started it by complaining that Vegas had made the undefeated Huskies underdogs in three of their last four games, like the media had anything to do with it. He should have taken it up with his bookie.
Funny, but, considering all the whining and “underdawg” signs among the 68,791 Monday at the Superdome, no one seemed offended that Michael Penix only came in second for the Heisman.
Judging by how, in a 37-31 barnburner, he lit up Texas’ secondary like it was New Orleans’ harbor on New Year’s Eve, the man appears short a trophy due him.
Unfortunately for Texas, Quinn Ewers finished second among the quarterbacks at the Superdome, and that was pretty much the story of the night.
For all the demons exorcised and strides made by Texas in a breakthrough season, and despite a wildly entertaining comeback that demonstrated the fight Steve Sarkisian lauded all year, it ended pretty much like it did last year at the Alamo Bowl.
Another disappointing loss to Washington.
Only the stage was bigger this time.
On one hand, the season was an unmitigated success, especially considering only two years ago the result was 5-7. In Texas’ last lap of the Big 12, the only hitch in the Embrace the Hate Tour was a three-point loss at the State Fair.
Just the same, Sarkisian had a grander vision in mind for his third season at Texas, as he should have. For the first time in more than a decade, Texas boasted a defensive front, led by mammoth T’Vondre Sweat, that could belly up against anyone. Finished second in the nation against the run. This is the kind of prime beef you need at the big-boy table, particularly the kind the Longhorns will find on a regular basis in the SEC next season.
The Longhorns did, indeed, hold Washington to 102 yards rushing Monday. But they couldn’t put any pressure on the Huskies’ passing game.
Penix may look like his left elbow is pinned to his side when he throws, but the results are pretty. He was 29 of 38 for 430 yards and two touchdowns. In the first half alone, he hit 11 of 14 passes for 255 yards, averaging a whopping 23.2 yards per completion. There wasn’t a lot of run after catch, either. Looked like the second act of a punt, pass and kick competition. Washington receivers caught passes of 77, 52, 29 and 24 yards. Didn’t matter if they were open or not. Penix dropped dimes everywhere.
Ja’Lynn Polk tipped one into the air and patiently waited for it to settle into his hands for a 29-yard touchdown, a Longhorn defensive back spilled in his wake.
That touchdown came after DeBoer gambled on a fourth-and-one on his end of the field and won. He might have gone there at least once too often. Like in the second quarter, when he snubbed a field goal attempt from the Texas 14 on a fourth-and-one. And with Penix standing on the sideline, to boot. A wildcat play netted next to nothing.
Passing up those three points seemed critical, both then and late in the game, if only because Texas kept coming back to the bitter end.
On Texas’ last drive of the first half, Ewers finally put it together, leading a 72-yard scoring drive in the last 1:20 punctuated by a couple of key scrambles to tie the game.
When Washington pulled away in the second half, Ewers led another charge, this one cutting it to 34-28 with 7:23 left. Seemed improbable they were that close. And, in fact, it didn’t last long. Penix moved the Huskies at will until Texas’ defense stiffened, then settled for a 40-yard field goal to put the game out of range.
Ewers made one last charge to Washington’s 7. On a fourth and 4 and 1:09 left, Sark had a decision to make:
Kick a 25-yarder and hope to recover an onside kick?
Or go for it?
He chose the former, Washington recovered, and that, for all intents and purposes, should have been that. Except Texas got the ball back with 45 seconds left, and Ewers threw 41 yards to Jordan Whittington at the Washington 28.
From the Washington 12 three plays later, one second and one down remained. Ewers threw for the right side of the end zone and Adonai Mitchell, but Elijah Jackson batted the throw away. The Huskies will move west to Houston next week to play top-seeded Michigan, grinding its own ax this season. The Wolverines, who beat Alabama 27-20 in OT in the Rose Bowl, are on a revenge tour after Jim Harbaugh had to sit out three games as punishment for sign stealing, resulting in signs like, “Free Harbaugh.” The Wolverines swore revenge. Players and staff wore gear emblazoned with “Michigan vs. Everybody.”
Best guess: My apologies, Kalen, but Michigan will probably be the favorites again, even if you’ll have the better quarterback again.
As for Texas’ quarterback, Ewers, who recovered from a slow start to finish 24 of 43 for 318 yards and a touchdown, remains mum about his next move. He has until Jan. 16 to decide whether to return or declare for the draft. If Monday was his last hurrah as a Longhorn, it was a heck of a farewell. No, he wasn’t as spectacular as the other quarterback, but, if you ask me, neither was anyone else this year.
