Sportsnaut is covering the 2024 Sugar Bowl, kicking off the second game of the College Football Playoff Semifinal with the Texas Longhorns vs Washington Huskies. Check below for live Sugar Bowl highlights, score updates and analysis throughout the game.
Let’s dive into our live coverage of the Sugar Bowl.
Sugar Bowl score
You can find the live Sugar Bowl score here, with updates immediately after each squaring drive and quarter-by-quarter breakdowns.
| 1ST QTR | 2ND QTR | 3RD QTR | 4TH QTR | SCORE | |
| Texas Longhorns | 7 | 14 | 0 | 10 | 31 |
| Washington Huskies | 7 | 14 | 10 | 6 | 37 |
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Texas shows fight in fourth quarter
With the Longhorns trailing by 13 points in the fourth quarter, Ewers strung together the best drive of the day for Texas. Suddenly, he connected with speedster Xavier Worthy for a 38-yard reception down the left sideline. Then, he later found Adonai Mitchell for a 50-50 jump ball in the end zone to pull within six points.
Michael Penix Jr. showing why he should’ve won the Heisman
Washington’s offensive line is certainly helping Penix Jr. on Monday night, but the Huskies’ quarterback is putting on an air show. Even with the Longhorns’ defensive backs putting on tight coverage downfield against the Huskies’ receivers, the Heisman Trophy runner-up is showing his unfathomable accuracy on deep throws. At the end of the third quarter, in which he had over 100 passing yards, Penix Jr. has completed 23-of-27 attempts for 372 yards and 2 scores.
Texas turnover turns into Huskies’ two-score lead
In a back-and-forth game, neither team could afford to give the football away. Unfortunately for Texas, that’s precisely what happened in the third quarter. Following Washington’s go-ahead touchdown drive, running back CJ Baxter took a big hit that popped the football loose, with the Huskies immediately recovering at the Texas 33-yard line. Washington’s offense took full advantage of the takeaway, turning it into a two-score lead near the midway point of the third quarter.
Michael Penix Jr. putting on a passing clinic
It’s Michael Penix Jr’s world and we’re just living in it. Coming out of halftime, the Huskies’ quarterback built off his first-half dominance. The Huskies engineered an eight-play, 70-yard touchdown drive to open the third quarter, capped off with Penix Jr. delivering a bullet over the middle to Jalen McMillan for a 19-yard touchdown to put the Huskies up 28-21.
Quinn Ewers uses athleticism to march Longhorns in for the tying score
After watching Penix use his agility to maneuver around the pocket and throw strikes, Ewers employed a different plan. The Texas QB used his athleticism to scramble, including a 21-yard scamper that ended with a late hit to put the Longhorns in even better scoring position at the 3-yard line.
One play later, CJ Baxter punched it in with a three-yard touchdown rush to even up the score.
Polk keeps concentration on tipped pass to haul in touchdown
It may have taken a 4th-and-1 conversion to do so, but Penix was in his bag, connecting to five different receivers, helping the Huskies take a 21-14 lead. Penix saved the best for last, but it took his receiver, Ja’Lynn Polk using impressive hand-eye coordination to track what ended up being a tipped pass.
Penix stepped up in the pocket to avoid rushers, as we’ve seen him do all night. This opened up the window for Polk to track the 29-yard Penix pass with ease.
Texas uses stout defense to stop Washington in their tracks on turnover on downs
Just moments after Penix wowed the crowd with a deep connection to his top receiver downfield, Washington’s offense ran into trouble. Down to the 25-yard line, the Huskies oddly dialed up four rushing plays in a row. The first gained six yards, but the second led to just a three-yard gain. Then, Johnson really struggled, getting another three yards, before Washington just decided to go for it on 4th-and-1.
But Texas had other plans, where their run defense didn’t allow another inch of space, stopping Johnson for a gain of no yards, handing the ball back to Texas at their own 14-yard line.
Michael Penix makes magic with 52-yard strike to Odunze
It’s not often you see a near-perfect pass, but this is nothing new for Washington’s QB. We’ve come to expect beautiful passes from the left-handed gunslinger, and his 52-yard bomb to Odunze in the second quarter was no different. Sure, one could argue it was a bit underthrown, but we won’t haggle too much about chunk plays like this.
Byron Murphy scores a ‘big-man’ touchdown for Longhorns
Now we know Texas is having a good time. Just plays after watching Washington muff a punt, the Longhorns found themselves at the one-yard-line, where they didn’t turn to their stable of running backs. Instead, they called upon the defense, using the big beef of defensive tackle Byron Murphy to pound in the rock for the goal-line touchdown.
Bernard muffs a punt to put Texas into scoring position
Just minutes after Germie Bernard help set up Washington to take a one-score lead, he made a crucial mistake when fielding a punt. Bernard couldn’t seem to make up his mind when the ball landed in his grasp, and he started taking off before he actually secured the football. Texas quickly hopped on the loose ball, giving Ewers his best starting field position yet, at the Washington 22-yard-line.
Dillon Johnson walks into end zone to give Huskies 14-7 lead
Capping off a nine-play, 79-yard drive, Washington’s lead running back needed just one more yard to put Washington back on top to start the second quarter. It was Johnson’s second touchdown of the day after also getting a two-yard score in the first quarter.
Germie Bernard, Rome Odunze set up Washington’s offense in Texas territory
Washington’s offense is rolling again, with Michael Penix Jr. buying time in the pocket and his wide receivers making some big plays. Germie Bernard (29 yards) and Rome Odunze (24 yards) had two big downfield plays, putting the Huskies at the Texas 23-yard line at the end of the first quarter.
Texas Longhorns answer with their own touchdown drive
We smell a shootout. Minutes after Washington put the first touchdown of the game on the board, Texas answered. Led by running backs CJ Baxter and Jaydon Blue, the Longhorns shoved the football right down the middle of the Huskies’ defense and punched it into the end zone.
Washington strikes fast, Ja’Lynn Polk hits it deep
After a quick series by the Longhorns’ offense, Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. did what he does best. On the Huskies’ first possession, Penix hit Ja’Lynn Pol for a 77-yard catch-and-run to put the ball at the Texas 3-yard line. One play later, Dillon Johnson punched it in.
Watch the Sugar Bowl on ESPN2 to start, Texas starts with the ball
With the Rose Bowl going into overtime, the original start time for the Sugar Bowl was now pushed back. ESPN has moved its Sugar Bowl broadcast to ESPN2 for the time being. Once the Rose Bowl post-game coverage is over, ESPN will go live to Texas and Washington.
Update: The Sugar Bowl is back on ESPN before kickoff.
Before Kickoff
Heading into the CFP, everyone expected both the Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl to be close. While there wasn’t a ton of scoring in Alabama vs Michigan, it was one of the most entertaining games in college football this season. As for the Huskies vs Longhorns, we’re hoping for a lot of points. If we could ask for anything else, free football would be great.
2024 Sugar Bowl highlights: Everything to know before kickoff
Here is a quick rundown of everything you need to know before Monday’s CFP Semifinal matchup between Texas and Washington.
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Sugar Bowl game info
- Time: 8:45 PM ET
- TV Info: ESPN
- Location: Caesars Superdome – New Orleans, Louisiana
2024 Sugar Bowl odds
The latest Sugar Bowl odds are via BetMGM.
- Point Total: 62 points
- Moneyline: Texas (-185), Washington (+150)
- Spread: Texas -3.5
Washington vs Texas history
Here is a brief history of matchups between Texas and Washington in college football.
- Last Meeting: Washington 27, Texas 20 (2022 Alamo Bowl)
- All-Time: 3-2, Texas
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Texas Longhorns depth chart
Here is the Texas Longhorns depth chart heading into the Sugar Bowl.
Offense
- QB: Quinn Ewers/Arch Manning
- RB: CJ Baxter/Jaydon Blue/Keilan Robinson
- WR: Adonai Mitchell/Xavier Worthy/Jordan Whittington/Johntay Cook II
- TE: Ja’Tavion Sanders/Gunnar Helm
Related: Texas Football schedule 2024
Defense
- DE: Ethan Burke/Alfred Collins/Vernon Broughton/Justice Finkley
- DT: Byron Murphy II/T’Vondre Sweat/Trill Carter/Jaray Bledsoe
- LB: Jaylan Ford/Jett Bush/Anthony Hill Jr/Morice Blackwell Jr/David Gbenda/Liona Lefau
- CB: Terrance Brooks/Ryan Watts/Jahdae Barron/Gavin Holmes/Derek Willams Jr/Jaylon Guilbeau
- S: Kitan Crawford/Jerrin Thompson/Michael Teaffe/Derek Williams Jr.
Texas Longhorns stat leaders
- Offense
- Pass Yards: 3,161 – Q. Ewers
- Pass TDs: 21 – Q. Ewers
- Comp. %: 70.7% – Q. Ewers
- Rush Yards: 1,139 – J. Brooks
- Rush TDs: 10 – J. Brooks
- Rec. Yards: 969 – X. Worthy
- Rec. TDs: 10 – A. Mitchell
- Defense:
- Sacks: 5.5 – E. Burke
- INTs: 3 – M. Taaffe/T. Brooks
- FFs: 1 – 8 tied
- Solo: 41 – J. Ford
- PDs: 7 – J. Thompson
Washington Huskies depth chart
Here is the Washington Huskies depth chart heading into the Sugar Bowl.
Offense
- QB: Michael Penix Jr.
- RB: Dillon Johnson/Will Nixon
- WR: Rome Odunze/Jalen McMillan/Ja’Lynn Polk/Germie Bernard/Giles Jackson/Denzel Boston
- TE: Devin Culp/Jack Westover
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Defense
- DE: Bralen Trice/Ulumoo Ale/Sekai Asoau-Afoa/Jacob Bandes
- DT: Tuli Letuligasenoa/Faatui Tuitele
- LB: Zion Tupuola-Fetui/Edefuan Ulofoshio/Alphonzo Tuputala/Boi Tunuufi/Carson Bruener
- CB: Elijah Jackson/Jabbar Muhammad/Mishael Powell/Thaddeus Dixon/Jaivion Green
- S: Dominique Hampton/Makell Esteen/Vincent Holmes/Kamren Fabiculanan
Washington Huskies stat leaders
- Offense
- Pass Yards: 4,218 – M. Penix Jr.
- Pass TDs: 33 – M. Penix Jr.
- Comp. %: 65.9 – M. Penix Jr.
- Rush Yards: 1,113 – D. Johnson
- Rush TDs: 14 – D. Johnson
- Rec. Yards: 1,428 – R. Odunze
- Rec. TDs: 13 – R. Odunze
- Defense:
- Sacks: 5 – B. Trice
- INTs: 3 – M. Powell/J. Muhammad
- FFs: 2 – E. Jackson
- Solo: 54 – D. Hampton
- PDs: 10 – J. Muhammad