The 15th-ranked Texas Longhorns may be moving up sooner than many expected them to, and that could lead to a shot at the College Football Playoffs a year from now. But for this season, they will settle for a Sugar Bowl victory, which they got on Tuesday night, 28-21, over the fifth-ranked Georgia Bulldogs. Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger ran for three touchdowns, helping the Longhorns earn their first 10-win season since 2009. Ehlinger's scoring runs were from two yards, nine yards, and one yard out, as he finished with 169 yards on 21 carries, despite taking numerous big hits throughout the night. The big win led to the quarterback shouting out to the Longhorns faithful "we're back!" during the trophy ceremony, as they fully expect to be good under head coach Tom Herman in years to come.
Herman gets this New Year's Six Bowl victory in just his second season with Texas after leaving Houston, as they handed the Bulldogs their third loss of the season. Georgia was coming off an SEC Championship loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide, which kept them out of the College Football Playoffs this season. After this defeat, they sure did hear it from the Texas crowd, who repeatedly chanted "overrated" in the direction of the team in red.
The Longhorns had to hold off a late comeback attempt by Georgia after leading, 28-7, with 11:49 to play in regulation. The Bulldogs found the end zone twice, in the midst of some chippy play, and forced Texas to recover an onside kick to seal their victory. The Longhorns jumped ahead with a fast start, as they led, 17-0, by the second quarter, despite being 12.5-point underdogs coming in to play. Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm found Brian Herrien for a touchdown to cut their deficit to 20-7 by halftime.
Fromm threw for 212 yards and three touchdowns on 20-of-34 throwing, but his third touchdown pass came with just 14 seconds to play. He did have one interception, which gave Ehlinger an extra opportunity, and the Bulldogs just could not stop the mobile quarterback on the ground.
Both of these teams expect to be legitimate competitors in the College Football Playoff race next season, with both programs returning a majority of their rosters. The Bulldogs will kick off their 2019 season with a road game against Vanderbilt on August 31st. The Longhorns will open up their season that same day at home against Louisiana Tech.
Herman gets this New Year's Six Bowl victory in just his second season with Texas after leaving Houston, as they handed the Bulldogs their third loss of the season. Georgia was coming off an SEC Championship loss to the Alabama Crimson Tide, which kept them out of the College Football Playoffs this season. After this defeat, they sure did hear it from the Texas crowd, who repeatedly chanted "overrated" in the direction of the team in red.
The Longhorns had to hold off a late comeback attempt by Georgia after leading, 28-7, with 11:49 to play in regulation. The Bulldogs found the end zone twice, in the midst of some chippy play, and forced Texas to recover an onside kick to seal their victory. The Longhorns jumped ahead with a fast start, as they led, 17-0, by the second quarter, despite being 12.5-point underdogs coming in to play. Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm found Brian Herrien for a touchdown to cut their deficit to 20-7 by halftime.
Fromm threw for 212 yards and three touchdowns on 20-of-34 throwing, but his third touchdown pass came with just 14 seconds to play. He did have one interception, which gave Ehlinger an extra opportunity, and the Bulldogs just could not stop the mobile quarterback on the ground.
Both of these teams expect to be legitimate competitors in the College Football Playoff race next season, with both programs returning a majority of their rosters. The Bulldogs will kick off their 2019 season with a road game against Vanderbilt on August 31st. The Longhorns will open up their season that same day at home against Louisiana Tech.
