3 days ago3 min read

Texas-Arizona State Makes for Interesting Peach Bowl Matchup

No. 5 Texas (12-2, 7-1 Southeastern Conference) and No. 4 Arizona State (11-2, 7-2 Big 12 Conference) face off in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal game in the Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta at 1 p.m. EST on Jan. 1, 2025.

The game is one of four second-round playoff matchups as eight teams remain in the hunt for the national championship.

What's at Stake?

The stakes for this one are high, yet simple. The winner advances to face either No. 1 Oregon (13-0, 9-0 Big Ten Conference) or No. 8 Ohio State (11-2. 8-1 Big Ten) in a national semifinal game in the Cotton Bowl Classic at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Jan. 10.

The loser sees their season and hopes of winning a national championship end.

Key Players: Arizona State

Offense

QB Sam Leavitt

Leavitt may be one of the more underrated quarterbacks in the country. While running back Cam Skattebo is asked to shoulder most of the load, the redshirt freshman has been impressive as a complement. He takes care of the ball, throwing for 2,663 yards with 24 touchdowns and just 5 interceptions, and is the Sun Devils' second-leading rusher on the season.

RB Cam Skattebo

Skattebo is the headliner of the Arizona State offense. In his second year with the Sun Devils after transferring from Sacramento State, he ran for 1,568 yards and 19 touchdowns while adding 506 yards and 3 scores as a receiver. That all led to a fifth-place finish in voting for him for the Heisman Trophy.

Defense

DBs Myles Rowser, Xavier Alford

Rowser and Alford are Arizona State's leading tacklers and will be challenged by a potent, deep Texas passing attack. Both defensive backs have 4 pass breakups on the year. Alford, a former Longhorn, should be familiar with Texas' overall plans and strategies.

LB Caleb McCullough

McCullough was the second-best run-stopping linebacker in the Big 12 this season for a top-30 rush defense.

DL Clayton Smith, Elijah O'Neal

Smith and O'Neal are tied for the team lead with 4 sacks apiece and have combined to knock down 9 pass attempts this season. Their play up front will need to affect Ewers as he tries to establish a rhythm.

Key Players: Texas

Offense

QB Quinn Ewers

Ewers has an NFL future and has led the Longhorns' offense for three years. He has battled through adversity this season with 2,867 passing yards, 26 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Ewers had an impressive game against Clemson in the first round.

RBs Jaydon Blue, Quintrevion Wisner

Balance is key for Texas on offense, and Blue and Wisner have provided a spark in recent weeks, They complement each other's strengths so well and influence the game in so many different ways that it can be difficult for teams to prepare for them. Both backs were huge in the game against Clemson, and Texas will need them to continue to shine throughout its playoff run.

WR Isaiah Bond

Texas' passing attack gets one of its top weapons back from injury as Bond is expected to play. He is the third-leading target behind fellow wide receiver Matthew Golden and tight end Gunnar Helm, but might be most effective with his speed.

Defense

DL Alfred Collins, Vernon Broughton

Collins and Broughton don't get much national attention, but they have stepped in to fill the shoes of a couple of NFL players admirably. In this game, the trenches will have a massive impact, especially as the Texas defense attempts to slow down Skattebo. Collins and Broughton will help lead that charge.

LB Anthony Hill Jr.

Hill Jr. might be Texas' best and most consistent player. He affects the game in many ways and has displayed vast improvements in pass coverage. He leads the Longhorns with 99 tackles and has 7.5 sacks.

DB Jahdae Barron

The Thorpe Award winner has had a tremendous season, pacing an improved secondary with 50 tackles, 5 interceptions and 11 pass breakups. He'll get a great challenge from Tyson in this game, but is one of the best defensive backs you'll see this season.

Trends to Watch

Turnovers have a way of making a substantial impact in games like this. The Texas defense leads the nation with 29 turnovers forced this year and has forced a turnover in 22 consecutive games. Normally, that would give the Longhorns a distinct advantage. However, Arizona State has only turned the ball over 8 times all year, 7 of which came in Big 12 play.

Likewise, the Sun Devils have forced 22 turnovers this year (16th in the country) while the Texas offense has only had two games this year without committing a turnover.

Whichever team can get a leg up on the turnover margin should be able to control this game.