Three things we learned from Washington's dramatic 37-31 win against Texas in the College Football Playoff semifinal game at the Caesars Superdome on Monday night:
Penix put on a show
As he has done all season, Washington's senior quarterback singlehandedly carried the Huskies offense. The cagey lefty riddled the Texas defense with his pinpoint accuracy and quick decision-making. With dozens of NFL scouts in attendance, Penix made a strong case for being a first-round draft prospect by putting on one of the most prolific passing shows in Sugar Bowl history. Touch passes. Bombs. Lasers through traffic. Timely scrambles. Penix did it all. And Texas had no answer for him.
Washington Huskies quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (9) and Washington Huskies wide receiver Germie Bernard (4) celebrate a fumble recovery by Texas Longhorns defensive back Jahdae Barron (23) during the second half of a College Football Playoff semifinal game in the 90th Allstate Sugar Bowl at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans , Monday, Jan. 1, 2024. (Staff Photo by David Grunfeld, The Times-Picayune)
His final passing numbers were staggering: 29 of 38 passes for 430 yards and two touchdowns. He added 31 more yards on the ground, to account for 86% of Washington's 532 yards.
His passing total was the third most in Sugar Bowl history, trailing only Tim Tebow's 482 yards in 2010 and Rohan Davey's 444 in 2002.
Penix completed 11 of 14 passes for 255 yards and a touchdown in the first half alone.
He was the no-brainer winner of the game's Most Outstanding Player award. Afterward, Huskies coach Kalen DeBoer called him "the best player in college football."
Penix certainly made a case for it against the Longhorns.
The third quarter was decisive
The game turned in the third quarter when Washington scored 13 unanswered points to turn a 21-21 halftime tie into a 34-21 lead.
Penix led the charge, completing his first 11 passes in the second half.
The Huskies defense contributed to the cause by forcing and recovering a pair of Texas fumbles.
Texas didn't score in the second half until midway through the fourth quarter. The Longhorns made it interesting, though, by furiously rallying in the final 2 minutes. They kicked a field goal with 1:09 left to trim the score to 27-31, when drove to the Washington 12-yard before failing on four plays to score the game-winning touchdown in the final seconds.
"You love seeing a team come through and find a way to win," DeBoer said. "The defense had to stay out there and play every down until the very end. So proud of the resiliency and finding another way to win a football game."
The Huskies are dangerous 'dogs
The undefeated Huskies have won 21 consecutive games, the longest streak in the nation. They play with a feisty fearlessness that embodies the spirit of DeBoer and is fun to watch.
And yet, despite their unbeaten season and sustained success, they continue to be disrespected. They were 9.5-point underdogs to Oregon in the Pac-12 championship game and were 3.5-point underdogs against the Longhorns. They've been installed as 4.5-point underdogs to Michigan in the CFP title game next week.
"I just think we prove everybody wrong time and time again, and we'll continue to do that," UW linebacker Bralen Trice said. "You can overlook us all you want, but we go out there and we prove everybody wrong every time."
Underestimate the Huskies at your own risk.