Two Katy ISD graduates, Jalen Milroe and David Gbenda, fell just short of getting to the College Football Playoff National Title game last week, with both the University of Alabama and the University of Texas coming yards away from extending their seasons and making it to the biggest college football game of the year.

Milroe had a good day for Alabama in what ended up being a 27-20 loss to No. 1 Michigan in overtime. The redshirt sophomore completed 16 of his 23 passes for 116 yards, while adding 63 yards on the ground. Milroe led Alabama down the field on the teams final possession of the game, but the Crimson Tide came up just short, getting stuffed on a quarterback power run on a fourth and short in the redzone as Michigan came away with the win.

Texas meanwhile found themselves in just as close a game down the stretch in its College Football Playoff against the University of Washington, but like Alabama came up just short on its final drive. Gbenda had just one tackle in the game but it was a big one, stuffing Washington on a third and short before the Huskies turned it over on downs. The Longhorns were down nine with just minutes remaining in the game but came back and had a chance to win it at the end. The Longhorns drove all the way down to the redzone, but a fourth down pass to the endzone was batted down as time expired.

A big part of the Texas offensive line was Taylor graduate Hayden Conner, who finished his junior year as a two year starter for the Longhorns, he helped UT gain 318 yards through the air and 180 yards on the ground in the loss.

Milroe ended the year with 2,834 yards through the air to go with 23 touchdowns to just six interceptions, he added 531 yards on the ground and 12 more touchdowns as he cemented himself as the Crimson Tide’s starting quarterback down the stretch.

Gbenda also had a big year in his senior season. He finished the season with 50 tackles, 23 of which were solos and 1.5 sacks, also deflecting two passes while helping the Longhorns to a Big 12 Title and National Semifinal appearance. Gbenda ends his college career with 109 tackles, 58 solo tackles, three sacks and an interception.

Conner started all 14 games for Texas this season at left guard.