Texas draws Georgia as a consolation prize
AUSTIN — About 20 minutes after Texas fell to Oklahoma in the Big 12 championship game, sophomore quarterback Sam Ehlinger was asked about the possibility of ending his season in the Sugar Bowl.
Most would consider a trip to New Orleans a phenomenal consolation prize for a conference runner-up with four losses. And for Texas, which hadn’t earned an invite to a New Year’s Six Bowl all decade, it would present a chance to build on the program’s best season since it ended its 2009 campaign with a loss to Alabama in the BCS national title game.
But Ehlinger’s answer remained stuck in his throat for seven seconds that felt like an eternity. Finally, with great effort, he mustered a response.
“I don’t really have a comment,” Ehlinger said, almost whispered. “We’re still at AT&T Stadium.”
Come New Year’s Day, Ehlinger and the 15th-ranked Longhorns will be in the Sugar Bowl, selected as the Big 12 representative after fourth-ranked Oklahoma climbed into the College Football Playoff ’s final slot. They’ll face another conference runner-up, fifth-ranked Georgia, which lost to Alabama in the SEC title game.
“Really proud of our team for what they’ve accomplished, although certainly disappointed with the outcome in our championship game yesterday,” Herman said. “This is a definite reward for them and the season that they’ve had. Having been to the Sugar Bowl as a coach myself, I know what a fantastic operation it is.”
This won’t be the first Sugar Bowl featuring Herman and Georgia coach Kirby Smart on opposing sidelines, but it will mark their first encounter as head coaches.
Herman served as Ohio State’s offensive coordinator and Smart as Alabama’s defensive coordinator when the two programs faced off in the 2015 Sugar Bowl. The Buckeyes’ offense got the better of Alabama’s defense in a 42-35 win.
“That is an interesting factoid that we competed against each other as coordinators in the Sugar Bowl just four years ago,” Herman said. “We know what they’ve been able to do. They played in the national championship game last year. They were on the verge of getting to the playoffs this year. Kirby has that thing rolling, and we are going to need our A-game to have the chance to beat them.”
Georgia boasts a top-15 scoring offense and scoring defense. Its offense, led by sophomore quarterback Jake Fromm, ranks fifth in team passing efficiency and 14th in total offense. Running backs D’Andre Swift (1,037 rushing yards) and Elijah Holyfield (956) can cause all kinds of trouble for opposing defenses.
“I’ve seen the statistics, and they’re in the top 20 in nearly every offensive and defensive statistic,” Herman said. “From statistics alone it looks like a very balanced team.”
The Longhorns and Bulldogs last met in the 1984 Cotton Bowl. Georgia won, 10-9, on quarterback John Lastinger’s 17-yard touchdown run with about three minutes remaining.
The 85th edition of the Sugar Bowl doesn’t feature any conference champions or Heisman candidates. What it does have is two of the college football’s marquee brands, the No. 1 (Texas) and No. 6 (Georgia) revenue earners among Football Bowl Subdivision schools.
It also features an overwhelming favorite in Georgia, pegged as an 11.5-point favorite.
“They are a really good program and were discussed as one of the final teams with a chance to make the College Football Playoffs, so we know they are good,” UT senior tight end Andrew Beck said. “It’s a game that should excite you as a player. They have a lot of guys who will end up playing in the NFL one day, and they’re the type of opponent you should want to play in a bowl game when you come to Texas.”
Saturday afternoon in the depths of AT&T Stadium, Ehlinger made a vow: “I will make it my mission to never let this team or this school feel this disappointment again.”
He can begin that mission by shocking Georgia in New Orleans.