In the end, the committee chose the only option available – the right thing. 

Texas is headed to the College Football Playoff for the first time in program history. The Longhorns, fresh off a Big 12 championship win over Oklahoma State, ranked third in the final CFP standings and will play Washington in what is expected to be the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1, 2024. The top-ranked team, Michigan, picks the semifinal site and is expected to be the Rose Bowl. 

Texas hasn’t competed for a chance to win a national championship since 2009. A win in the semifinal and Texas would reach the national championship game at NRG Stadium in Houston. The Longhorns went 12-1 in the regular season and a non-conference win at Alabama by double digits propelled them into the top four. The only loss of the season happened late in a rivalry game against Oklahoma. 

The Longhorns put an exclamation point on the season in a 49-21 victory over Oklahoma State on Saturday in Arlington. Texas won the last Southwest Conference title in 1995, and it won its last Big 12 championship before heading to the SEC next season. Quinn Ewers threw for a Big 12 championship game record 452 yards in the win. He threw for four touchdowns in the first half. The defense held Ollie Gordon to 34 yards rushing on 11 carries. 

The winner of Texas’ semifinal plays the winner of the semifinal between Michigan and Alabama.. The national championship game is on Jan. 8 in Houston.