Texas fights, but falls to Washington 27-20 in 30th annual Alamo Bowl

SAN ANTONIO — The University of Texas was hoping to finish their season with a win in the Alamo Bowl over Washington, but missing players and missed opportunities loomed large in the loss.

With Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson out, the Longhorns’ rushing attack went nowhere. Freshman quarterback Quinn Ewers had a decent game, but a few key drops cost Texas dearly.

Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said he was proud of the way his guys competed, but wants to make sure they’re poised and composed in crucial situations.

“I want to recognize our senior class and the guys that are moving on for what they’ve done for our program,” Sarkisian said after the game. “I greatly appreciate it and very thankful for what they’ve done for me, the staff and this program in changing the culture here. I’m proud of our team and what they’ve done from year one to year two. I think we’re making really good progress. And the key for us now is to take the next step going into year three. All of us have to improve individually so that we can improve collectively.”

Sarkisian lamented the way his team played on third down on both sides of the ball. Washington went 11-20 on third down while UT only mustered 6-15.

First Quarter

Washington took the opening kickoff and wasted no time showing how high-powered their offense is. Quarterback Michael Penix threw a 35-yard bomb on the first play to set the Huskies up in Texas territory. A few plays later though, Penix got picked off by Jerrin Thompson.

The Longhorns went three and out, and when they tried to punt it away Washington blocked it. UT’s defense did a good job to force Washington into a field goal, which they hit to open the scoring.

Texas took over at their own 10. After a facemask on Washington and a few passes from QB Quinn Ewers, the Longhorns were across the 50. They got to fourth and 1, and Ewers found Casey Cain all alone in the flat. He got the first and ran all the way inside the 10. Ewers tried to find Cain again on a goal-line fade, but he was just out of bounds. UT cashed in with a short field goal to tie it up at 3.

Washington started at their own 10 after a poor return, but Penix engineered a big drive to get into Texas territory. Once there, running back Wayne Taulapapa gashed the defense and smashed a UT defender with the stiffest of arms en route to a 42-yard touchdown.

Second Quarter

Needing an answer, Ewers drove Texas back up the field. They got a few first downs, then got stopped short at Washington’s 37. UT went for it on fourth and Ewers had a man, but threw low and behind him as they turned it over on downs.

Washington got into a third and short, but a pair of pre-snap penalties made it a much tougher conversion. Penix threw a bomb that fell harmlessly to the turf, though it sure looked like the refs missed a pass interference call.

With Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson out, Keilan Robinson was the primary rusher for Texas. They ran him three times in a row, but only got 9 yards and punted it away.

UW’s drive stalled out around the 50, and the punt sailed into the end zone. Texas got another big gain on a short pass, this time it was Ja’Tavion Sanders taking it for a first down and more. Again Texas got to the 50, and again they stalled out. This time they punted, and it took a Washington bounce into the end zone.

Penix picked the defense apart as he led the Huskies up the field with time running out in the half. They picked up a few big third downs on the drive, and Penix broke UW’s record for most passing yards in a season with 4,484. He threw a dart on third to get the Huskies inside the 20, and they called their last timeout with 22 seconds left. They got it to the 6, then spiked it with 12 seconds on the clock. Penix threw it into the crowd, then threw to the end zone incomplete.

Washington closed the first half with a field goal, making it 13-3 at halftime of what looked like it would be a shootout on paper.

Washington had a slight edge in passing yards, 139-126, but they had 88 rushing yards to just 18 for Texas. The Longhorns definitely felt the absence of Bijan Robinson and Roschon Johnson.

Third Quarter

Texas got the ball and started the second half with a pair of big first downs for Xavier Worthy. They got pushed back on a holding penalty, but got it back to the original line of scrimmage on the next play. On second and 10, Ewers threw a misdirection screen to Jonathon Brooks who dashed down the sideline for a 34-yard touchdown. The extra point made it 13-10 Washington.

UT’s defense got the Huskies into a fourth and 1 from their own 34, but couldn’t stop Penix from picking up two on the sneak. Washington picked up a couple of third-down conversions. Penix hit a man on a slant to get into the red zone, then found Taj Davis who ran it in for a short touchdown to make it 20-10.

Texas got it up to their 40, and Ewers tried a deep ball to Xavier Worthy that hit his hands, then hit the turf. The next throw on third and long Worthy was wide open and streaking toward the end zone, and again the pass hit him in the hands, and again he dropped it. Texas punted it to Washington’s 10.

Texas’ defense again stepped up and forced a fourth and short near the 50, and again Washington went for it and got it. The Huskies got another big first down on a wildcat run to get to UT’s 27 and take the game to the final 15 minutes.

Fourth Quarter

Washington got to the 8, then Jalen McMillan reached down to snag a low throw by Penix to put the Huskies up 27-10.

In desperation mode, Ewers picked up the pace. He got it to Worthy for 19 yards and a first down, and then another first to Jordan Whittington to get inside Washington’s 30.

Ewers hit Gunnar Helms over the middle for 19 yards, and Brooks ran it in for his second touchdown of the game to make it 27-17 with 9:50 to play. 

The Longhorns continued to put Washington in third-down situations, and Penix continued to deliver. He very nearly got picked off by Terrance Brooks, but he couldn’t haul it in. On the next play, Penix again threw for a first down that got the Huskies inside the 40 of Texas. UT finally got a stop on third and 11. Washington went for it again, but a bullet from Penix was broken up.

Ewers hit on a series of short throws to get into Washington territory, then a big one to Cain to get across the 30. Then the QB tucked it and scrambled for a first. The Huskies forced a short field goal to make it a 7-point game with 1:40 to play.

UT’s onside kick went straight to Washington, but they stopped the Huskies three times in a row and got the ball back with 31 seconds left.

Ewers nearly threw a pick on the first play from scrimmage. He got sacked on the next play, then stopped the clock with an incompletion with 3 seconds left. Cain caught a desperation heave on fourth down, but he fell down a long way from the goal line with zeros on the clock.

Washington won 27-20. Ewers finished with 369 yards and a touchdown, while Penix capped his historic season with 287 yards, 2 scores and a pick.

A top-20 showdown is taking over the Alamodome. No. 20 Texas is set to face off against No. 12 Washington in the 30th annual Alamo Bowl.

Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. led the nation in passing yards this season

Penix chose to stay in college for the bowl game and the 2023 season instead of heading for the NFL. Another big game from the transfer from Indiana could create a lot of buzz for himself and the Huskies for next season. 

“These guys, they score a lot of points, they throw it around man, clinic with coach DeBoer, but the the Michael Penix and those receivers, they do a heck of a job,” said UT coach Steve Sarkisian. “Their ability to rush the passer defensively and create havoc on the quarterback are issues. But they can score they score on everybody. It doesn’t matter. The helmet doesn’t matter who they’re playing. They go score and you got to be prepared to to make sure you’re playing four quarters and score collectively against them because they can do it at a high high level.”

The Huskies are on a six-game win streak heading into their first bowl since 2019. Another win and another big game from Penix likely sets up the quarterback and the Washington program for a lot of buzz heading into 2023. 

“I do know what Michael does and he doesn’t a high level and being around college football for many years, he does as good as anyone I’ve ever seen,” said Huskies head coach Kalen DeBoer. “His ability to to be accurate. He’s got a cannon for an arm. He’s a great leader, great person, high character guy who came in and instantly brought life to our team. Our stadium became electric because of the big plays he’s made. Taking an offense that was near the bottom of FBS a year ago, and pretty much with everyone else around him, for the most part, be in the same people to be one of the top two offensive in the country in most categories. A lot of that credit is due to what Michaels done for us.”

Texas made key strides in coach Steve Sarkisian’s second season. After a 5-7 finish in 2021 that included the longest losing streak in 65 years, the Longhorns finished third in the Big 12 and were in the mix for a berth in the conference championship game in late November.

Unlike Washington, Texas has seen an exodus of several top players before the bowl game.

Bijan Robinson, who led the Big 12 in rushing with 1,508 yards and 18 touchdowns, opted out of the bowl game to get ready for the NFL. So did the Longhorns’ second-leading rusher, Roschon Johnson, and linebacker DeMarvion Overshown, who tied for the team lead with 10 tackles for losses and also had four sacks.

“I feel for our players because they love this place, but yet they have a future to think about too. So that’s that’s that’s how we go about it,” Sarkisian said.

Texas is 3-1 in Alamo Bowl matchups dating back to 2010. 

Steve Sarkisian used to coach Washington, and got nostalgic ahead of the game.

“My time at Washington was one that I will never forget. Special time, special place, that place was incredible. The fan base was incredible. I don’t take it lightly. You know, you evolve as a coach, obviously, as you go through all of it and in the end, man, you hope you leave a place better than what you found it and I think that we did that. DeBoer has done a fantastic job with that program,” Sark said. “I’m appreciative of all the people there. You know, they’re great people, the University of Washington and much respect for everybody there.”

Sark even coached Washington in this game. In 2011, his Huskies fell in a 67-56 shootout against a Baylor team led by Robert Griffin III.

“I’ll never forget watching RG III and that that whole crew, that was a great game. You know, I think that’s what the beauty of the Alamo bowl is. It’s like, you know, I know we’re not New Years 6 game but, man to get to top 20 teams battling at a high level on a national stage and man, this is what it’s about. So great opportunity for us, the University of Texas, great opportunity, I’m sure for coach DeBoer and his program at the University of Washington, and what a deal for the Alamo Bowl to get these two teams. Are you kidding me?”

Texas didn’t have all the success they wanted to this season, but don’t expect Sark and his Longhorns to take this game for granted.

“At the end of the day, there’s high expectations with what we do, and our players are appreciative of the opportunity that we have,” Sarkisian said. “To play the University of Washington and all that they’ve accomplished this season, and a team that… a couple plays here or there and they’re in the College Football Playoff. This is a great challenge for us, and a great bowl game for us, a great opportunity.”

His counterpart at UW, Kalen DeBoer, is also ready to kick this bowl game off.

“Coach Sark, he’s got some history with UW as you’ve heard,” DeBoer said. “Just appreciative of what his part is in our history. Looking forward to the great challenge to play UT. We know that they’ve had, as you look at their schedule and their season, they’ve had some great wins and continue to seem to be projecting onward and upward, so we’re looking forward to the great challenge.”