Arizona State vs. texas: a game to remember

We will all be telling our children about the 2025 Peach Bowl, no doubt about it. Arizona State and Texas turned in an instant classic on New Year’s Day, with the Longhorns pulling out a victory in overtime, 39-31. 

This game looked like it was wrapped up for Texas in the 4th quarter, when quarterback Quinn Ewers found the end zone on a 5 yard rush, putting Texas ahead by 16 with just 10 minutes to play. But standout running back Cam Skattebo and the Sun Devils had other ideas. A trick play which called on Skattebo to throw the ball worked to perfection, as he found Malik McClain for a 42 yard touchdown, cutting the lead to 10. The 2 point conversion was a success, with quarterback Sam Leavitt hitting Xavier Guillory to make it a 1 score game. 2 plays later, the ball was back in Sun Devil hands, with Javan Robinson coming down with a big time interception on a Ewers deep ball. 

It gave Arizona State a chance, with 5 minutes left, down 8. They would be pinned deep in their own territory, on their own 21 yard line. It would take the longest drive of Arizona State day to find the end zone. Tough task, no?

Enter Cam Skattebo. 

On the first play of the drive, Leavitt tossed a deep ball down the left sideline for Skattebo, and Skattebo came down with it over star Texas safety Michael Taaffe. A 62 yard gain, all while having his helmet ripped clean off his body and mean mugging the camera after he got brought down. First and goal, Arizona State. Field flipped. Momentum flipped.

3 plays later, Skattebo found the end zone again to make it a 2 point try away from a tie game. No surprise, he got the ball again on the conversion. No surprise, he was successful. Tie ball game, 5 minutes left. 

After Texas got the ball back, they looked prime to regain the lead, driving down to Arizona State’s 30 yard line. Sending senior kicker Bert Auburn for a 48 yard attempt to go ahead 3 with just over 90 seconds left on the clock, Auburn pushed it wide right. Still tied. Arizona State ball.

But the game would be far from over, even in regulation. Arizona State went 3 and out, punting the ball back to the Longhorns with 57 seconds remaining. Texas would have a long way to go, starting the drive on their own 20 yard line, but all they needed was a field goal to move onto the College Football Playoff semifinals.

Quinn Ewers showed why he’s still starting over Arch Manning on this drive. 5 passes, 5 completions, and 58 yards later, Bert Auburn was once again trotting out to hit a big time field goal. With time expiring as the ball was in the air, Auburn once again missed. Overcorrected and missed wide left. To overtime we go. 

In case you didn’t get enough action in the first 4 quarters, there was certainly some in overtime. Arizona State took the ball first, and got in the end zone after a Sam Leavitt rush took them down to the 3. Of course, Cam Skattebo was the one to bang it home. 

Texas’ drive was a rollercoaster. Incomplete pass, rush for no gain, 2 yard completion, false start. 4th and 13. What does Quinn Ewers do? Find Matthew Golden in the end zone for a 28 yard touchdown, obviously. We advance to a 2nd overtime.

Texas got the ball in the 2nd overtime period, and wasted absolutely no time, with the first play from scrimmage being a 25 yard touchdown pass from Ewers to 

Arizona State needed to score and get the 2 point conversion just to stay alive now. On 3rd and 8 from the 10 yard line, Leavitt tried to find Matthew Golden on the left sideline. 

Texas cornerback Andrew Mukuba had other plans. Picked off. Ball game. 

Texas advances to the CFP semifinals, where they will take on the red hot Ohio State Buckeyes, who are coming off a big upset of the #1 seed Oregon Ducks in the Rose Bowl. Texas has their work cut out for them, but if the defense can attempt to contain superstar freshman Jeremiah Smith, they could come out on top. Arizona State had a phenomenal season under Kenny Dillingham, winning the Big 12 and finishing 11-3. They’ll look to build off that for next year, and something tells me we haven’t seen the best of Arizona State football. 

One thing is for sure though: the new look College Football Playoff is here, and it’s amazing. 

Dylan Barnas

DiSportsPhotoAgency

Writer