Can Texas hold the fort against Washington in the Alamo Bowl showdown?
San Antonio, Texas - With the Valero Alamo Bowl fast approaching, the Texas Longhorns will have to face up the Washington Huskies without their star player Bijan Robinson.
The Longhorns are set to look a little different from the team that nearly shook the boots off of coach Nick Saban and his Alabama players earlier this season in Week 2.
Now that Texas' superstar running back Bijan Robinson has declared for the NFL draft along with linebacker DeMarvion Overshown and running back Roschon Johnson, Texas will need all the help they can get to win this bowl game and set the tone for an even greater 2023 season.
Luckily, the Longhorns still have their hotshot quarterback Quinn Ewers who will look to use receiver Xavier Worthy against the Huskies' pass defense squad that was the least efficient in the Pac-12 this season.
Another possible top player for Texas during the Alamo Bowl may be running back Jonathan Brooks. The redshirt freshman could make quite the impression in this game as a possible replacement for Robinson.
Brooks showed up big during the regular season, going for at least five yards per carry in each game where he touched the ball at least once. The same could be said for his true freshman campaign last fall.
Washington is set to return a full team to the bowl showdown
After losing back-to-back road games against UCLA and Arizona State, the Huskies closed out the regular-season with six straight wins.
Washington's offense caught fire, and finished coach Kalen DeBoer's first season with a bowl game appearance.
The Huskies will be led by their Heisman-finalist ranked quarterback Michael Penix Jr., who announced he will be returning to the college ranks next season.
This year, Penix gave eight players at least 200 receiving yards - with Rome Odunze and Jalen McMillan each racking up over 1,000 yards this season.
On the ground, the Huskies have two running backs who have over 200 rushing yards in Wayne Taulapapa – with 779 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns – and Cameron Davis – with 522 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns.
Washington will have a powerful offensive squad in the Alamo Bowl, which means the Longhorns defense will have their hands full.
The Alamo Bowl is set for December 29 at 8 PM EST at the Alamodome.
Cover photo: Tim Warner / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP