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College Football Playoff: Texas Defeats Arizona State in Double-Overtime Peach Bowl Thriller
Jan
Despite a valiant effort from Cam Skattebo, Arizona State fell short against Texas in Atlanta.
ATLANTA — Texas may or may not emerge as the top football program by the end of the 2024 season. However, Arizona State has already solidified its reputation as the most entertaining team, regardless of the final score. Cam Skattebo of the Sun Devils might even have warranted a re-vote for the 2024 Heisman Trophy.
Texas triumphed in the Peach Bowl with a thrilling 39-31 double-overtime victory in the College Football Playoff, earning a spot in the Cotton Bowl in Dallas against Ohio State. Meanwhile, Arizona State concluded one of the most exciting seasons in recent college football history, leaving a mark on the Longhorns and creating a folk hero in Skattebo.
Skattebo, who placed fifth in this year’s Heisman voting, will haunt Texas’ memories as proof that records, resumes, and reputations don’t matter in the heat of the game.
The Sun Devils entered as 13.5-point underdogs, and early on, the odds seemed accurate. Texas scored 14 points in just over a minute in the first quarter. Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers threw only two passes — a 54-yarder to Matthew Golden and a 23-yarder to DeAndre Moore Jr. — and Texas led 7-3 less than seven minutes into the game.
After an Arizona State three-and-out, Texas’ Silas Bolden returned a punt 75 yards for a touchdown. At 14-3, the game appeared headed toward another College Football Playoff blowout.
The Turning Point
Over the next two-and-a-half quarters, the game hit a bizarre stalemate. Arizona State controlled possession for nearly three times as long as Texas — 32:49 to 12:11 through three quarters. However, the Sun Devils failed to capitalize, managing just three points from five drives inside the Texas 40-yard line. Despite their struggles, Arizona State’s defense relentlessly pressured the Longhorns, even forcing a safety after a stalled drive at Texas’ 2-yard line.
Then came the fourth quarter, when chaos and Cam Skattebo took over. Ewers orchestrated a 13-play, 76-yard touchdown drive to extend Texas’ lead to 24-8, seemingly sealing the game. But Skattebo had other plans.
He threw a 42-yard touchdown pass to Malik McClain, followed by a two-point conversion to make it 24-16. Arizona State’s Javan Robinson intercepted Ewers on Texas’ next drive, and Skattebo capitalized with a 62-yard run and a touchdown, tying the game with another two-point conversion.
With 1:39 left, Texas kicker Bert Auburn missed a 48-yard field goal, sending the game to overtime.
Overtime Drama
Arizona State struck first in overtime, with Skattebo scoring on a 3-yard run to make it 31-24. On Texas’ possession, Ewers connected with Golden for a dramatic 28-yard touchdown on fourth-and-13, forcing a second overtime.
This time, Texas wasted no time. Ewers found Gunnar Helm for a 25-yard touchdown and converted the two-point attempt, giving Texas a 39-31 lead. On Arizona State’s final possession, Leavitt’s pass was intercepted by Andrew Mukuba, ending the Sun Devils’ hopes.
A Season to Remember
The game marked only the second meeting between Texas and Arizona State, the first being in 2007. Texas entered the season as a highly ranked program, while Arizona State was a longshot in the Big 12. The Sun Devils defied expectations with a chaotic but effective offense, led by Skattebo.
Both teams traveled far to Atlanta due to playoff logistics, and attendance suffered as a result, with tickets dipping as low as $14 before kickoff.
Texas now faces Ohio State in Dallas on Jan. 10. The Longhorns must quickly learn from their narrow escape if they hope to advance further in the playoffs.
built for these moments 🤘#CFAPeachBowl // #HookEm pic.twitter.com/s9pzk70szN
— Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl (@CFAPeachBowl) January 2, 2025
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