Sugar Bowl: Texas Longhorns bowl game plans and opponent are set

The Texas Longhorns have claimed their first Big 12 championship title since 2009 after defeating the Oklahoma State Cowboys 49-21 in Dallas at AT&T Stadium.

Texas demonstrated they are the best team in the Big 12, scoring first against the Cowboys and keeping the momentum throughout the title game. The Longhorns made a strong statement in their quest for the College Football Playoff and were rewarded with a spot in the semifinals.

Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers made history by surpassing Sam Bradford for the most passing yards in a Big 12 title game with over 400 yards. Ewers was exceptional, completing 35 out of 46 passes for 452 yards passing for four touchdowns and one interception. Even defensive tackle T'Vondre Sweat managed to score a touchdown for Texas and celebrated by hitting the Heisman pose.

On the other hand, the Oklahoma State Cowboys struggled to find their rhythm, and Ollie Gordan II, who entered the title game leading the nation in rushing yards, only managed 13 carries for 34 yards against the Longhorns.

Now, as the newly crowned Big 12 champions, the Longhorns will play the Pac-12 champions, the Washington Huskies (13-0), in the College Football Playoff.

College Football: Quinn Ewers throws for 354 yards in first half of Big 12 Championship

Will Texas play in a bowl game? Can they make the College Football Playoff?

The Texas Longhorns had an outstanding regular season record of 11-1 and won the Big 12 title, which made them eligible to participate in a bowl game. However, their bowl game placement was uncertain and largely depended on the outcome of other championship games.

The outcomes of the ACC and SEC championship games between Florida State and Louisville and Georgia and Alabama had a big impact on the Longhorns' CFP hopes. The Seminoles' and Crimson Tide's wins created an interesting debate as to whether the committee could keep the Longhorns out of the playoff.

Ultimately, the CFP committee kept Florida State on the outside looking in, and Texas got the higher seed over Alabama thanks to their victory over the Crimson Tide in Tuscaloosa, Ala. in Week 2.

The Longhorns will play in the 2024 Sugar Bowl, one of two CFP semifinal bowls.

College Football: Texas could be a major snub when College Football Playoff field is announced

Who will Texas play in the 2024 Sugar Bowl?

Since Texas is the No. 3 team in the final CFP rankings, they'll take on the Washington Huskies – the Pac-12 champions and CFP's No. 2 team – in the 2024 Sugar Bowl.

The two schools have played five times dating back to October 1974. The Longhorns have won three of those clashes, but the Huskies won the teams' most recent matchup, 27-20, in the 2022 Alamo Bowl.

When is the Sugar Bowl? TV schedule and streaming

When: Monday, Jan. 1, 8:45 p.m. ET

Where: Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, La.

Cable TV: ESPN

Streaming: ESPN app; YouTube TV; Sling; FuboTV

How to watch: Catch all CFP action with a Fubo subscription

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Texas football bowl game: Longhorns to play Washington in Sugar Bowl