Three Keys to a Sugar Bowl Win for the Longhorns

After a long four weeks without football, the Longhorns will take the field on Monday in New Orleans. Texas will be participating in their first ever playoff game and they have a large task in front of them. Last year the Longhorns and Washington Huskies faced off in the Alamo Bowl but this year both teams are better. Washington is coming into the playoffs with a 13-0 record which includes two wins over Oregon. Led by quarterback Michael Penix Jr., the Huskies can score fast and plentiful and this year’s Sugar Bowl should be a great game for football fans even without a rooting interest.

The Longhorns are rumbling into the playoffs playing great football themselves. Early on it was questioned if they had a killer instinct but that can be put to bed after their last two games. In the final two games Texas outscored Texas Tech and Oklahoma State a combined 106-28. That included dominating the Big 12 Championship from the jump against Oklahoma State. In winning their first Big 12 Title since 2009, this Texas team showed they aren’t afraid of the big stage. What do the Longhorns need to do in order to get back to the national championship game for the first time since 2009?

Texas Defense Needs to Make Impact Plays

Last year when the two faced off, Washington was able to hold off Texas 27-20. A large part of that was due to the Texas defense playing an average game at best. Washington was 13/23 on 3rd/4th downs. This season the Texas 3rd down defense is 2nd in the country, allowing a first down just 26.5% of the time. If Texas wants to stop Washington at a more efficient rate this year, 3rd down will be where that starts and stops.

It wasn’t just 3rd and 4th downs that hurt Texas though. In terms of impact plays on defense that would be TFL, sacks or turnovers, the Longhorns had just one of those last year in the Alamo Bowl – it came courtesy of a Jerrin Thompson interception of Michael Penix. A game without sacks or TFL’s will make it near impossible for Texas to win, so they must beat the Huskies’ offensive line more times than not.

Texas Run Game Must Show Up

Last year the Texas run game was nonexistent against Washington as they rushed for just 51 yards. It was the first game without Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson, and it was a tough outing on the ground. This year Texas needs to establish the run early and often to keep their offense balanced. If Texas passes 47 times compared 18 runs again that will not be a good sign.

This year RB Jonathon Brooks was having a better season than Bijan had last year before his torn ACL against TCU in week 10. That led many to think Texas would struggle to run the ball without Brooks. That hasn’t been the case as CJ Baxter and Jaydon Blue have picked up the slack creating a good running back by committee. In the three games without Brooks, Texas is averaging over 200 yards a game on the ground. That will win you some football games.

Worthy & Mitchell Need to Produce

Wide receiver Xavier Worthy had likely his worst game as a Longhorn against Washington last year. He had multiple drops on passes which would’ve been explosive plays. It came out later that Worthy was playing with a broken hand which helped explain some of his drop issues. In last year’s Alamo Bowl Casey Cain was the leading receiver and he is now in the transfer portal due to lack of playing time. Worthy has had a great season even if it’s not his best season by the numbers. He is not only a great receiver but a real weapon in the return game as well. He is averaging just under 18 yards per return and has one touchdown. That doesn’t include one return that was called back on a questionable call against Iowa State. Bottom line is get the ball in Worthy’s hands and good things happen.

AD Mitchell is in his first season as a Longhorn and it hasn’t been a quiet one for the Georgia transfer. Mitchell has been outstanding in an area in which Texas badly needed. Last year, teams would double Worthy and Texas struggled to have anyone else who could deliver on the outside. Mitchell has the ability to do so and has over 800 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns. He is a big game player, no doubt. At Georgia where he won back to back national titles, he had injury issues but he played when it mattered most. Scoring touchdowns in all 4 playoff games, Mitchell has played great in big games at Texas as well. He caught 2 touchdowns against Alabama and caught another one to go along with 100 yards in the Big 12 Championship victory. Look for Mitchell to have a big game on Monday night against Washington.