CFB Playoffs - The Peach Bowl: Texas v Arizona State
By GEORGE SOMERVILLE
We could argue that the Playoffs really start here but that is being disingenuous to the games played in the first round. However where round one games lacked excitement, there is sure to be no end of excitement and chaos this time around. In what is almost certainly the most intriguing game of this round of games, the Bluebloods of Austin Texas (aka The Longhorns) face-off against new kids on the block and upstarts, the Arizona State Sun Devils.
Where and When
The Texas Longhorns face off against the Arizona State Sun Devils in the Mercedes Benz Stadium, Atlanta on 1st January at 1.00pm ET/ 6.00pm UK. The game is being broadcast by ESPN/ABC, but in the UK you can watch on Sky Sports NFL (channel 408).
Story so far…
Longhorns on a roll
After Georgia despatched the Longhorns in the SEC Championship game, it was back to winning games for Texas beating Clemson in the first round of the playoff competition in Austin.
Let’s not shy from the fact that this Texas team is built to win a National Championship and NOW.
However there have been some bumps along the way especially when Georgia have been the opponents. Texas has proved for most of the season that they have what it takes to go all of the way, especially with the #1 ranked defense in FBS. So it remains an intriguing proposition that they face against a Sun Devils team that took the BIGXII by storm in their first year in the conference.
Sun devils are dark horses
With Texas and Oklahoma moving to the SEC this year, it was all to play for in the BIGXII this season. The usual suspects such as Oklahoma State, TCU and last seasons surprise package, Kansas were tipped to fight for the conference championship. Even newcomers Colorado and BYU were much fancied. Except no-one was talking about Arizona State. In fact no-one was talking about the Sun Devils with 3 games left to play in the regular season.
This is not to diminish the truly incredible job that Kenny Dillingham and his first year staff have achieved. Remember this is a program in utter chaos after previous head coach Herm Edwards and his staff left under a cloud accused and found guilty of recruiting violations. Who would take a job with a diminished roster and heavy sanctions looming. Kenny Dillingham did wanting to return home to his alma mater.
And what job he has done in year one. Defeats to Texas Tech and Cincinnati blemished an otherwise impressive resume this season. With Colorado falling to Kansas late in the season, the Sun Devils knew a win over BYU would get Arizona State to a conference championship. Which they did and a subsequent win over Iowa State got them a first round bye in the CFB playoff and a place in the Peach Bowl. A fairytale script if ever there was….
Which sets up what could be the most intriguing match up of all of this slate of games.
The Quarterbacks…
Texas : Quinn EWERS
Texas head coach, Steve Sarkisian continues to press home the message that the Longhorns best chance to win not just this game, but the National title is with Ewers at control of the helm. Which might be an odd thing for a coach to say about a team that has only two losses in a season. But such is the fickle nature of the Texas media and fanbase that Ewers continues to divide opinion. At times you would think that those Longhorn boosters with the deepest of pockets would happily fund the airfare to get Ewers out of Austin and to the NFL. Why? Because the hype around the QB1 in waiting is sky high. Yes, Manning-Mania is alive and well deep in the heart of Texas…..
But to pivot back to Ewers for a minute, because ya’know he is the QB1…..
Ewers season has gone well passing for 2,663 yards, 24 touchdowns and 10 interceptions giving him a 66.5% completion rate. These are not the stats of a QB under pressure and struggling with his game. Except it is Texas and everyone is under pressure all of the time. Ewers completed the job against Clemson, next up is the Sun Devils. And another chance for Ewers to cement his legacy in Austin.
Arizona State : Sam leavitt
Like his running back, Leavitt also had a lot to say during Peach Bowl media duties. Leavitt transferred in from Michigan State in 2023 and quickly won the starting QB job over Jeff Sims. Leavitt has never looked back and now that they are in Atlanta the Sun Devils want everyone to know that they aren’t here just to make up the numbers – they’re in Atlanta to win and take the scalp of the much coveted Longhorns. So Leavitt decided to throw the gauntlet down to Quinn Ewers.
“People keep counting me out since day one and I’m going to prove I’m the better quarterback” said Leavitt on Monday.
So does Leavitt have a case? He has thrown for 2,663 yards and 24 touchdowns this season with five interceptions. Which leaves him behind Ewers in passing stats. However Leavitt is by far the better of the two when he runs with the ball – which is what Arizona State will look to do if the run game and Skattebo is nullified by Texas.
The confidence is there with Leavitt and his team. Now they have talked the talk its time to walk the walk. Should they beat Texas they will be legitimate National Title contenders. And boy, when was the last time we said that about Arizona State…..
Players to watch…
Isaiah Bond
Since his transfer from Alabama, Bond has made headlines in Austin with his electric play. 33 catches for 532 yards and 5 touchdowns has made him a firm favourite in Austin. However Bond has also rushed 4 times for 98 yards which adds a different dynamic to this Longhorns offense. Bond returns from an ankle injury suffered against Georgia, having missed the Clemson game. With tight end Gunnar Helm and stand out Wide Receiver Matt Golden also fit and healthy, Bond completes what is an electric offense for Texas. And importantly it gives Ewers plenty of options at the line of scrimmage.
cam skattebo
Skattebo came from almost nowhere this season to end up fifth in Heisman voting come December. Which underlines just how much impact the senior from California has had on the Sun Devils this year. So far this season Skattebo has rushed for 1,568 yards and 19 touchdowns along with 37 catches for an additional 506 yards and 3 touchdowns.
There is a confidence about this Arizona State team which is personified by Skattebo.
“They continue to keep saying that people are going to try to stop me,” Skattebo said during the Peach Bowl media day.
“There’s nobody out there that can stop me. We played in 13 games, and I’ve been the target on each one, so I’m not too worried. We’re going to play our game and play ball and see what happens there”.
There is no question that Skattebo will need to be at his absolute best to pierce the Longhorns defense. But if he can? Well…..
Prediction
When these two teams last met Colt McCoy led the Longhorns to a 52-34 win in the 2007 Holiday Bowl.
However much has changed since then. Much. Texas is definitely back (that joke no longer stands up to scrutiny) and Kenny Dillingham has transformed the Sun Devils during the course of one season.
This season, when the Texas offense hasn’t clicked the Longhorns defense has stepped up and nullified almost every threat in their way. So the question in this game is, can the Sun Devils offense achieve what every team Texas has faced this far, bar Georgia has not?
I love the story of the Sun Devils this year. Arizona State football historically has been exciting to watch, which remains true albeit Dillingham has added steel to his team.
That saying, my view for most of this year has been that the Longhorns are charging headlong towards a National Championship appearance. Sure there have been bumps along the way, but I don’t believe that the Sun Devils have enough up their sleeve to upset the Horns.
Texas 45 – Arizona State 24
George Somerville
COLLEGE FOOTBALL WRITER
GEORGE IS A LONG STANDING FANATIC OF LIFE AND FOOTBALL IN THE DEEP SOUTH AND WRITES HIS WEEKLY COLUMN CALLED “IT’S ONLY SEC” FOR THE TOUCHDOWN. HE IS ALSO CO-HOST AND ONE THIRD OF THE COLLEGE CHAPS PODCAST, THE UK’S FIRST PODCAST DEDICATED TO THE COLLEGE GAME.