IRVING, Texas (KXAN) — A popular line amongst coaches goes, "you either win or you learn." The Texas Longhorns learned in the College Football Playoff last season, and they're trying to use it to their advantage this time around. Texas is the only team from last year's 4-team College Football Playoff to make it to this year's CFP semifinals and part of the last quartet remaining, but the pain from losing to Washington last year still lingers. Texas’ Jahdae Barron is trying to enjoy the moments with the Longhorns while he can Texas defensive back and Jim Thorpe Award winner Jahdae Barron said last year's disappointment is something he'd rather not feel again. "It hurt, bad," he said. "But now you know what that feels like. It's like when you touch a stove. You don't want to touch it again. We don't want to be on the other side of that again. It helped with everybody's mindset and how we go about business." Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) and Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. (9) speak midfield after the Sugar Bowl CFP NCAA semifinal college football game between Washington and Texas, Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, in New Orleans. Washington won 37-31. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) The Longhorns fell to the Huskies 37-31 to end their 2023 campaign a game short of their ultimate goal. Michael Penix Jr., now playing for the Atlanta Falcons in the NFL, torched the Texas pass defense for 430 yards and the Huskies' defense did just enough at the end to keep a Texas rally at bay. Quinn Ewers threw for 318 yards with a 1-yard touchdown to Adonai Mitchell to help get Texas back in the game, but it wasn't quite enough. "We all looked at each other in the eye and knew we had to be back," Ewers said. "It's an addictive feeling to be where we are right now." Ewers facing program he reclassified to join in CFP semifinals at Cotton Bowl Classic This year's game is especially important to Ewers because it's essentially in his hometown. Ewers went to high school in nearby Southlake about 30 minutes from the site of the Cotton Bowl Classic, AT&T Stadium in Arlington. He's gotten a lot of ticket requests for the game and said he lets his mom handle all of that so he can focus on football. "Being in Texas, an out-of-state opponent coming in, it does feel like a home game," he said. "Obviously, got a lot of guys from DFW, so that helps, for sure." Sophomore linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. said getting to the semifinals of the 12-team CFP is a "new era of Texas football." "I feel like this is where we need to be every year from now on," he said.