NEW ORLEANS — The Texas Longhorns football team and their fans are in New Orleans, the site of one of the College Football Playoff semifinals -- the Allstate Sugar Bowl.
Along the famous Canal Street, there are indicators all around that the Longhorns are here in the Crescent City, ready to take over. More than 500 miles from the 40 acres, the signs that the Horns have arrived in New Orleans are everywhere.
"Thoroughly excited," said one fan we spoke with. "You know, we were waiting a long time for this."
"UT's defense is pretty good," another UT fan said. "Washington's offense, they've been struggling, you know, three games in a row now."
"I think we're going to win," another said.
From the streets to inside Caesars Superdome where the Sugar Bowl will be played on Monday, the University of Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian and the team are getting ready for the College Football Playoff semifinal.
One of UT's biggest strengths is the big men of the Texas defensive line, a unit that is ranked the No. 4 rushing defense in the nation.
"It is the type of game you dream for and we know that," Texas edge rusher Barryn Sorrell said. "We all know we're on one of the biggest stages out there and we're playing something. It's going down in the history books."
They're hoping when it's all said and done, the Big Easy will be burnt orange.
On Friday, we expect to hear from the high-powered Texas offense and quarterback Quinn Ewers.