Some analysts and fans predicted the Longhorns’ entry into the SEC would leave them battered and bruised—ditto for the Sun Devils in the Big XII. Make the College Football Playoffs? No way! Well, well!
Texas 38, Clemson 24. So there! The Longhorns’ only mishaps in 2024 were two losses to Georgia–30-15 during the regular season and 22-19 in the SEC championship. So, the Bulldogs know twice over what it’s like to face QB Quinn Ewers (3,069 yds passing, 27 TDs, 11 INTs, 87.5 QBR), RBs Quintrevion Wisner (1,083 yds, seven TDs, 5.2 yd avg) and Jaydon Blue (856 yds rush, 10 TDs, 6.1 yd avg), WR Matthew Golden (787 yds rec, eight TDs, 16.1 yd avg), and TE Gunner Helm (688 yds, six TDs, 12.5 yd avg).
On the other side of the field, many analysts and fans wrote off this year’s Sun Devils as they did Texas. The Big XII champ was a popular pick to finish last in the league. And why not? The 11-2 Sun Devils had never won a PAC-12 championship in all the years they played there (1978-2023), haven’t had a winning season since 2021, and finished 3-9 each of the last two seasons. Plus–just like Texas–this was ASU’s first year in a new conference.
Arizona State features Michigan State transfer QB Sam Leavitt (2,633 yds pass, 24 TDs, five INTs, QBR 81.7), who has not only racked up the stats but is also the team’s leader. Then there’s RB extraordinaire Cam Skattebo (1,568 yds rush, 19 TDs, 6.0 yd avg, 506 yds rec), WR receiver Jordyn Tyson (1,101, 10 TDs, 14.7 yd avg.), and DB Myles Rowser (93 total tackles, 47 solos, one sack and four PDs).
The Sun Devils enter the quarterfinals on a first-round bye after defeating three ranked teams during the regular season–Brigham Young, Utah, and Kansas State–and then knocking off Iowa State in the Big XII championship game.
The Longhorns and Sun Devils will face off for the first time since the 2007 Holiday Bowl. Mack Brown coached the 9-3 Longhorns back then, and Denny Erickson led the 10-2 Sun Devils. Texas was a 1.5 favorite going into the contest, which turned out to be a back-and-forth affair as the teams combined for 48 second-half points. Texas emerged the victor behind the arm of QB Colt McCoy, 52-34.
Texas is again the favorite on New Year’s Day (-13 as of December 28, courtesy of ESPN Bets). The game is Texas vs. Arizona State in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, which will be played on Wednesday, January 1, at 1:00 PM, televised by ESPN, at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA.
