Sugar Bowl 2024: Factors That Will Decide Texas vs. Washington Playoff

The Texas Longhorns and Washington Huskies have some of the best dynamic playmakers in college football on their respective rosters.

Quinn Ewers and Michael Penix Jr. received a ton of credit for their success inside the two offenses, but they had plenty of help from their top-tier wide receivers.

Wide receiver play, and not the actions of both quarterbacks, may be the difference-making factor in the Sugar Bowl, which is the second semifinal of the College Football Playoff on New Years' Day.

Each semifinalist possesses a strong defense as well, and both units have the potential to force turnovers out of the two signal-callers.

Ewers was intercepted six times, including two times in the last three games, while Penix was picked off in six of his last eight games.

One turnover may decide the clash in New Orleans, especially if both offenses live up to the high expectations they set for themselves this season.

Which Top Wide Receivers Shine Brightest

William Purnell/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 02: Texas Longhorns wide receiver Xavier Worthy (1) runs the ball by Oklahoma State Cowboys linebacker Nickolas Martin (4) at ATT Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by William Purnell/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Washington's Rome Odunze and the Texas duo of Xavier Worthy and Adonai Mitchell all rank in the top 60 in receiving yards in the FBS.

Odunze is second behind LSU's Malik Nabers with 1,428 receiving yards. He could finish the year on top of that chart if he plays two more games in the CFB Playoff.

Worthy is 31 yards shy of the 1,000-yard mark and Mitchell has 813 yards and 10 touchdowns on 51 catches.

Odunze is coming off a nine-catch, 102-yard outing in the Pac-12 Championship Game and he enters the Sugar Bowl with four straight 100-yard performances.

Mitchell and Worthy combined for 12 catches and 195 yards in the Big 12 Championship Game. Worthy also turned in a 100-yard performance in Texas' biggest game prior to that against the Oklahoma Sooners.

Both quarterbacks have to get the ball to the wide outs, but what they can do after the catch has the potential to flip the momentum of any game in their favor. Odunze averages 17.6 yards per catch and Mitchell averages 15.9 yards per reception.

All three top wide outs should find themselves in the spotlight during the Sugar Bowl, and there is a good chance one of them makes a game-deciding play.

Turnovers

Ian Maule/Getty Images

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - DECEMBER 01: Jabbar Muhammad #1 of the Washington Huskies reacts after breaking up a pass during the second quarter against the Oregon Ducks during the Pac-12 Championship at Allegiant Stadium on December 01, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ian Maule/Getty Images)

Ewers and Penix displayed some flaws throughout their paths to the CFB Playoff.

Ewers threw six interceptions and his only multi-pick game came in the Red River Rivalry game against Oklahoma.

The Texas quarterback was also sacked on five occasions in that contest. He was taken down a total of 25 times this season.

Washington's defense picked off 16 passes and forced five fumbles, two of which it recovered, during its 13-0 campaign.

Penix was only sacked 10 times, but he tossed nine interceptions, one each in the two games against the Oregon Ducks.

Texas' defensive line has the best defensive line prospect in the Sugar Bowl in T'Vondre Sweat. He will likely lead the pressure on Penix, and if he is double teamed, it will open up space for the other pass rushers.

The Longhorns recorded 16 interceptions and seven fumble recoveries this season, so they can certainly put Penix under duress.

Just like the big plays from the wide receivers, all it takes is one turnover to completely flip the course of what is expected to be a tight contest.