Texas vs. Washington College Football Playoff: Huskies strike first in ...

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Can Michael Penix Jr. lead Washington past Texas in their CFP semifinal matchup?

USA TODAY Sports' Dan Wolken breaks down the CFP semifinal matchup between Washington and Texas.

Michigan will play for a national title after stunning Alabama in overtime at the Rose Bowl in Monday's first CFP semifinal game. Who will the Wolverines face on Monday in Houston, Texas or Washington? That will be decided in Monday night's second semifinal -- the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.

A season before leaving the Big 12 conference for the SEC, Texas (12-1) is in the College Football Playoff for the first time. Texas claims four national football championships, with the last coming during the 2005 season after winning an epic 2006 Rose Bowl against USC.

Undefeated Washington (13-0) won the Pac-12 championship and is in the College Football Playoff for the second time (first time coming in 2016). The Huskies won eight of their last nine games by single digits, including the last four by a total of 15 points.

Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. was one of the four finalists for the Heisman Trophy and finished second to LSU QB Jayden Daniels.

USA TODAY Sports will bring you the latest updates, scores, highlights, wild plays, analysis and more throughout the Sugar Bowl between Texas and Washington. Follow along. 

Michael Penix Jr. entered Monday with the most passing yards in the country, and he’s letting it loose early in the Sugar Bowl.

Penix found Ja'Lynn Polk for a 77-yard strike that took Washington to the 2-yard line on its opening drive, and Dillon Johnson punched it in on the following play to give the Huskies an early 7-0 lead. 

Penix, the runner-up in the Heisman Trophy to Jayden Daniels, entered New Year’s Day with 4,218 passing yards and averages 324.5 passing yards a game. The score came after Texas punted on its opening drive.

The Texas-Washington Sugar Bowl game can be seen on ESPN. Sean McDonough (play-by-play), Greg McElroy (analyst), Molly McGrath (sideline reporter) and Katie George (sideline reporter) will call the game for ESPN.

ESPN also will offer a multi-platform presentation for each College Football semifinal game.

Texas is the favorite to defeat Washington in the Sugar Bowl, according to BetMGM odds. 

• Spread: Texas (-4) 
• Moneyline: Texas (-185); Washington (+150) 
• Over/under: 63.5

USA TODAY Sports’ staff picks for this game: 

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