Washington QB questions Texas' talent ahead of Sugar Bowl

Texas coach Steve Sarkisian landed his first head coaching job with the Huskies in December 2008. Washington, which posted an 0-12 record the season prior to Sarkisian’s arrival, went 34-29 in his five years at the helm. The two teams also share a bit of recent history, with the Huskies taking down the Longhorns 27-20 in the 2022 Alamo Bowl. And of course, there’s UT’s 2001 Holiday Bowl win over Washington, when Major Applewhite helped Texas erase a 19-point, third-quarter deficit in one of the program’s more thrilling comebacks this century.

Another story line emerged as players from both teams spoke with the media after their arrival in New Orleans, with Washington QB Michael Penix providing what some might call bulletin-board material when speaking about the vaunted Texas defense.

“I’m not going to lie, their D-line is good,” Penix said. “But at the same time, they haven’t played our O-line. So they showed a lot of great things throughout the year. Their whole defense, they do a great job. I feel like their coach does a great job with their system. They definitely play, what’s the word? They play good ball, man. But … we’re not playing, like, the 49ers’ D-line or the Eagles’ D-line, so we’ll be good.”

Penix’s comments fall more in the category of confidence in his own team than disrespect of the Longhorns, something he displayed again in his answer to a follow-up question.

“They had some good D-linemen last year,” Penix said. “One or two might have left. They were good last year, too. They usually have big boys over there on that side that can make plays. But I don’t know, but it’s different seeing them on film and being in the game. You see it on film, but at the same time, you’re watching a game against Texas Tech, K-State, all the teams they play, and I don’t feel like those teams have the offensive line that we have. So it’s like, we’ll have to see when it comes game day.

“I’m not going to discredit their talent. They’ve got talent. But it will be different when we play them. It’s always going to be different depending on the team.”

While Penix’s comments didn’t appear to be intended as a slight, that doesn’t mean Texas players aren’t taking notice. UT defensive lineman Byron Murphy II quote-tweeted a report of what Penix said and simply alluded to the start time of their matchup: “January 1st 7:45 p.m.”

Similar to the Washington quarterback, Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and Outland Trophy winner T’Vondre Sweat responded to a question about the Huskies’ offensive line—which was recently named the Joe Moore Award recipient as the top O-line in college football—by expressing confidence in his own team.

“It’s just another O-line to me,” Sweat said. “They’re a great group of guys. And they’re here to win, just like we’re here to win. … Everybody will see Monday at [7:45 p.m.]”