What is being stated about the Texas Longhorns in the lead-up to the 2024 Sugar Bowl?

HOUSTON (KTRK) — The Texas Longhorns will play the Washington Huskies in the College Football Playoff semifinals at the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1, 2024.

The Longhorns are attempting to reach their first national championship game since 2010 and capture their first title since winning the BCS National Championship game in 2006.

With an undefeated Washington team standing in their way, the Longhorns will need to perform at their best to continue what has been a historic season.

This Longhorns team is one of the best seen in Austin in recent years. With a sturdy offensive line that has made things difficult for opponents, the offense has a plethora of weapons for outstanding quarterback Quinn Ewers. T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy II head the Longhorns’ interior defensive line, which is perhaps the best in the country.

As the game approaches, the stars have risen to the fore, but reporters and experts throughout the country see a deep team that has a real opportunity to be the first club to beat the Huskies this season.

Here’s what people are saying about the Longhorns in the run-up to the 2024 Sugar Bowl.

“Since losing to Oklahoma, the Longhorns have practically gotten better each week, hovering outside the top five until it mattered…. The talk in Texas lately has been all about the Longhorns’ chances in the College Football Playoff. On the field, however, quarterback Quinn Ewers is finally reaching his full potential. The Sugar Bowl may not be a farewell, but rather a preview of next season. Ewers has NFL Draft potential.”

“Texas’ offense has also been on fire recently.” With the Longhorns’ chances of making the CFP up in the air, Texas went all-in on offense. The Longhorns scored 57 points against Texas Tech in the regular season finale and 49 points against Oklahoma State in the Big 12 championship game. Texas could have scored more in both games if it had chosen to.” (The Athletic’s Dan Santaromita)

“This is literally, most likely, the third Texas football team in my lifetime that is as good as it is supposed to be.” This has not happened very often in the history of the program. It’s similar to 2005, 2008, and 1990. That’s the only time this team has ever been as good as it should be. And that’s what hits me as much as anything else when I see them: they’re coming into the SEC and they look like an SEC club.” (Big Dumb Football, Bomani Jones)

“Texas is peppered with household names — quarterback Quinn Ewers, receiver Xavier Worthy, defensive tackle T’Vondre Sweat — and are built very much in the same vein as the Huskies, though their production in some categories, especially on defense [No. 23 in total defense and No. 3 in rush defense] gives an edge.” (247Sports’ Brandon Marcello)

“In his two years as Texas’ starting quarterback, Quinn Ewers has five games with a Total QBR of 90 or higher.” One was in the Big 12 championship game against Oklahoma State. Three more came versus Alabama [twice] and Red River rival Oklahoma [once]. He’s been at his best in the big games, and the Sugar Bowl versus Washington will be his biggest yet.” (ESPN’s Bill Connelly)

“I believe Texas is a slightly better team and will win in the end.” Don’t expect anything overwhelmingly positive. “A very competitive game.” (Late Kick, Josh Pate)