Texas football has proclaimed its re-entry into the national title conversation. The architect of it's defense, Pete Kwiatkowski, works in silence.

"I'm more of a reserved guy on the staff," Kwiatkowski said at his Thursday morning Sugar Bowl availability. "But when I do speak, I think maybe it resonates more because everybody's looking around like, 'Where did this come from?'"

Kwiatkowksi can be quiet because his unit's three-year transformation speaks for itself. In 2021, his and head coach Steve Sarkisian's first year, Texas plummeted to 1 5–7 record behind a porous defense. The Longhorns surrendered 31 points a game and over 200 rushing yards a game. Now, with many of the same players, the defense has flexed Texas-sized muscles en route to the program's first College Football Playoff game against No.2-ranked Washington.

Just don't expect Kwiatkowski to give away his trade secrets on the reclamation project.

"I've been doing this for 35 years," Kwiatkowski said. "There's great seasons and then there's tough seasons. It always comes back to - football is football. Don't make it more than it is, and stick to the process of getting better."

Fifth-year senior T'Vondre Sweat embodies the process of self-improvement. The All-American defensive tackle and Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year is the lynchpin of a Texas defense that ranks third in the nation allowing 80.8 rushing yards a game. He's vaulted himself into First Round NFL Draft conversations, but perhaps his biggest leap has come as a vocal leader.

"He's a very influential guy in that locker room," Kwiatkowski said. "To see his growth from a leadership standpoint, it's been awesome. And then, he's a big dude. There's an athlete somewhere inside in that body, that's what we always joke about."

Sweat, alongside freakshow defensive tackle Byron Murphy, face perhaps their toughest challenge of the season against Washington's offensive line, honored the Joe Moore Award fort he nation's most outstanding unit. The big boys up front allowed just 11 sacks in 13 games. Kwiatkowski said, while the unit is impressive, quarterback Michael Penix Jr.'s quick release is just as vital.

"Trying to get to Penix, obviously the offensive line does a good job of protecting him, but it goes hand-in-hand when the quarterback gets rid of the ball on time and is in rhythm, you're not going to get there." 

On a defense that's allowing opponents to convert just 26.5 percent of its third down attempts and tied for third in the nation in red zone defense, there has to be a weakest link. For Texas, it's the pass defense. The Longhorns are 93rd in the nation allowing 240.8 yards per game, and they'll be tested early and often, especially with breakout freshman Derek Williams set to miss the first half for a targeting penalty in the Big 12 Championship.

Penix has a 1,400-yard receiver, Rome Odunze, and 1,000-yard receiver, Ja'Lynn Polk, at his disposal. 

They are second in the nation allowing opponents to convert 26.5 percent on third down. 

Texas is 93rd in the nation allowing 240.8 passing yards per game. Washington quarterback Michael Penix was a Heisman finalist. They have a 1,400-yard receiver in Rome Odunze and a 1,000-yard receiver in Ja'Lynn Polk. But for Kwiatkowski, the message is limiting the explosive plays. Those hampered Texas in a near-upset from Houston when quarterback Donovan Smith burned them for touchdown passes of 32 and 21 yards. Will Howard's four touchdown passes nearly kneecapped their CFP hopes in an overtime battle with Kansas State.

"They're going to catch the ball, and we've got to get them on the ground," Kwiatkowski said. "When we tackle, don't give up explosive plays and we try to force these offenses to drive the length of the field, we're pretty good."