Sugar Bowl: Washington hangs on, tops Texas to reach CFP title game

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Michael Penix Jr. passed for 430 yards and two touchdowns, and Washington held off Texas 37 31 in the Sugar Bowl on Monday night to advance to the College Football Playoff championship game, earning both the sixth year quarterback with two surgically repaired knees and the beleaguered Pac 12 one more game this season.

The second ranked Huskies (14 0) next Monday night in Houston, looking for their first national championship since 1991 and the Pac 12’s first since Southern California in 2004. Washington is one of 10 schools fleeing the Pac 12 for other Power Five conferences next year, with the Huskies headed to join Michigan in the Big Ten.

But first, the final season of the four team playoff before expansion to 12 in 2024 comes down to a Pac 12 Big Ten matchup, just like the first when Ohio State beat Oregon. No. 3 Texas (12 2) had four shots at the end zone after getting to the UW 12 with 15 seconds left, but Quinn Ewers missed on the last three.

The final throw was a fade to a well covered Adonai Mitchell that sailed long. In Texas’ first CFP appearance and final football game as a member of the Big 12 before it goes to the Southeastern Conference, Ewers passed for 318 yards and a touchdown. But it wasn’t enough against Penix and his array of talented receivers..