The Texas Longhorns won their first-round playoff game against the Clemson Tigers 38-24 to advance to the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff. They hope to carry that momentum into Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Wednesday in their matchup against the Big 12 Champion Arizona State Sun Devils. Kenny Dillingham’s team enjoyed a first-round bye as conference champions, following their 45-19 rout of Iowa State on December 7th.
Texas is making their first ever appearance in the Peach Bowl and meeting Arizona State for just the second time in history (2007). If the Longhorns win the Peach Bowl, they will advance to the semifinals of the College Football Playoff for the second consecutive season. The game features two quality teams that possess prolific offenses and stout defenses.
Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo racked up 170 yards rushing in the Big 12 Championship game against the Cyclones, and the Texas defense knows stopping Skattebo is key to a victory. Conversely, the Longhorns must establish the run against the 22nd-ranked rush defense in order to give Quinn Ewers time to do damage through the air. This appears to be a game that could be close despite the Longhorns holding 13-point favorite status.
Will Texas keep the wheels rolling and defeat the Sun Devils en route to a semifinal appearance against the winner of Oregon-Ohio State? Or will the Sun Devils prove they are the better team? Our staff shares their thoughts on how the Peach Bowl will play out with predictions for the final score.
Jameson McCausland
Kenny Dillingham has done an excellent job in his two seasons at Arizona State after taking over a pretty bad situation from Herm Edwards. QB Sam Leavitt is one of the most underrated QB’s in the country and RB Cam Skattebo is well-known after his performances down the stretch of the season.
While the Texas defense faces a stiff test, it is the other side of the ball where I feel like the Longhorns hold a decisive advantage. Texas has been solid to good offensively for most of the year, but two areas that have been inconsistent are redzone scoring and converting on 3rd down. Luckily for the Longhorns, the two areas the ASU defense struggles in the most are stopping teams in the redzone and on 3rd down.
Kenny Dillingham will throw the kitchen sink at Texas. Arizona State has nothing to lose as 13-point underdogs and every trick play, onside kick, fake punt, etc. will be emptied from the playbook. I think the Sun Devils keep this game relatively close but the Longhorns offense is too much and slowly pulls away in the second half.
Score Prediction: Texas 35, Arizona State 24
Aaron Carrara
The path to victory against a very capable Sun Devil team is simple for the Longhorns: continue to play the brand of football they have played all season. Good things happen when Texas can run the ball and they need Tre Wisner and Jaydon Blue to pick up where they left off against Clemson. Arizona State’s pass defense is vulnerable and establishing a ground game early can help Quinn Ewers and his receivers be successful for four quarters.
The Longhorns give up just 261 yards of offense per game with just 156 yards coming through the air. Arizona State averages 423 yards offensively per game, which means Pete Kwiatkowski’s guys have work to do. Cam Skattebo is extremely talented in the backfield, but the Texas defense has stopped the run extremely well all season and there is no reason to think they won’t on Wednesday.
There is plenty of bulletin board material for the Longhorns’ locker room but I don’t think they need it. Steve Sarkisian appears to have his guys dialed in on winning this game and advancing.
Score Prediction: Texas 38, Arizona State 24
Marc Henry
The Texas Longhorns head into their Peach Bowl matchup against Arizona State boasting one of the top defenses in the country, and they’ll need every bit of that prowess to contain the Sun Devils’ balanced attack. Quarterback Sam Leavitt has been a playmaker all season, throwing for 2,663 yards and 24 touchdowns while spreading the ball effectively. Stopping him will be a challenge, but perhaps the bigger key for Texas will be containing Cam Skattebo, one of the nation’s top rushers. Offensively, the Longhorns must rely on the dynamic backfield duo of Tre Wisner and Jaydon Blue to control the game on the ground. Quarterback Quinn Ewers will also play a pivotal role, needing to deliver the ball quickly and make key plays with his arm to keep the offense rolling.
Score Prediction: Texas 27, Arizona State 17
Devon Messinger
Happy New Year! The Longhorns will look to celebrate in Atlanta against the Sun Devils in the Peach Bowl. Being 13-point favorites entering the game, Steve Sarkisian’s squad will have to live up to expectations in the second game of the College Football Playoff.
With the return of Isaiah Bond, Quinn Ewers has all the toys he needs on offense. However, can the Longhorns put up four quarters of consistent play offensively? And, on the flip side, can the Longhorns limit Cam Skattebo’s production? After a successful first game against Clemson, this Texas team seems to be trending in the right direction at the right time.
Score Prediction: Texas 31, Arizona State 17
Dylan DeRaud
This game sets up as a big game for Quinn Ewers, who should have plenty of opportunities to exploit Arizona State’s 70th-ranked pass defense. While ASU quarterback Sam Leavitt has expressed confidence in his abilities compared to Ewers, Texas’s dominance in the trenches will likely limit both his big-play potential and Cameron Skattebo’s effectiveness, especially against the Longhorns’ stout front four. Skattebo thrives at the second level and against weaker tackling, but he’ll face a much tougher challenge breaking through Texas’s defensive line. The Longhorns should control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball, dictating the pace and wearing down the Sun Devils.
Score Prediction: Texas 35, Arizona State 21
Mitch Lovell
The Longhorns will prove to be too much against the Sun Devils. This game will be similar to the 2023 Big 12 Championship Game in which Texas played Oklahoma State. Talented Cowboys running back Ollie Gordon was shut down in that game and Arizona State’s Cam Skattebo is equally talented. Texas has a better defense this season and will key in on Skattebo and make life difficult for Arizona State. Look for Quinn Ewers to have another good game in which Texas imposes their will on an undersized Sun Devil defensive line in the run game.
Score Prediction: Texas 45, Arizona State 14
