Texas advances to the second round of the College Football Playoff as the (5) Longhorns defeated (12) Clemson 38-24. This victory will lead to a quarterfinal match against (4th place) Arizona State University in the Peach Bowl on January 1, 2025.
The Longhorns, SEC runners-up in the conference’s first year, looked like title contenders for much of the game against Clemson. Texas rushed for 494 total yards and an impressive 6.1 yards per carry in the win at Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.
All eyes are now on Arizona State as former Big 12 team Texas takes on the inaugural champions of the revamped Big 12. It’s a true Cinderella story for the Sun Devils, who went from last-place preseason projections to winning the Big 12. They won the conference and secured a bye in the first round of the playoffs. Arizona State enters the Peach Bowl on a six-game winning streak, with three of its past four wins coming by double digits, including a 45-19 victory over Iowa State in the Big 12 Championship Game. are.
These programs have only met once before, with Texas winning 52-34 in the 2007 Holiday Bowl. In this game, Jamaal Charles had 161 yards and two touchdowns for the Longhorns, while Michael Jones had 107 yards and two touchdowns for the Sun Devils.
The Longhorns may need rushing magic like Charles if Texas is to pull off a win from Atlanta. Here’s what you need to know about the Peach Bowl matchup between Arizona State and Texas, including why the running backs could be the stars.
What you need to know about Texas
The Longhorns nearly forced Clemson back into the game, but ultimately outscored a late charge and won 38-24, earning the first playoff win in program history. Texas focused on its running game, especially running back Jadon Blue, who stopped a 77-yard touchdown run to seal the victory.
While Steve Sarkisian’s offense has gotten a lot of attention, Texas’ defense has been leading the way all season. Defensive back Jade Barron won the Thorpe Award as the nation’s best defensive back. Together with former walk-on All-American Michael Taaffe and Clemson transfer safety Andrew Mukuba, they form a no-fly zone in Texas’ defensive backfield.
Longhorns are equally dangerous on the front lines. Linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. contributes all over the field, and defensive tackle Alfred Collins spearheads a solid rushing defense. Under defensive coordinator Pete Kwiatkowski, the Longhorns feature the nation’s No. 1 passing defense and No. 13 rushing defense.
The offense has taken a step back from its magical 2023 form, but the Longhorns still have plenty of playmakers. Quarterback Quinn Ewers continued to be an effective distributor, throwing 26 touchdowns and scoring every game. However, the rushing offense has been inconsistent, ranking 9th in the SEC. Texas will need to find a way to move the ball on the ground, especially after two starting offensive linemen were injured against Clemson.
What you need to know about Arizona
Arizona State shocked the college football world by defeating Iowa State in the title game and going from 3-9 to 11-2 and winning the Big 12 championship in its first season in the conference.
Arizona State was powered by a dominant rushing performance from running back Cam Scatterbo, who finished in the top five in Heisman Trophy voting. The former Sacramento State transfer had a breakout season with 1,568 rushing yards, 506 receiving yards and 22 total touchdowns. This year, he trailed only Boise State’s Ashton Giunty in all-purpose yards.
The Sun Devils improved across the board and qualified for the College Football Playoff. Quarterback Sam Leavitt has emerged as an All-Big 12 performer and brings stability to the position. In the trenches, offensive lineman Leif Fautanu and defensive lineman CJ Fitt earned all-conference honors and improved the team’s play on both sides of the ball.
Arizona State will be without top receiver Jordyn Tyson, who led the nation in receiving yards over the final nine weeks of the regular season. Senior Melquan Stovall stepped up with four catches for 91 yards in the win over Iowa State, but the Sun Devils will need more effort against one of the nation’s top defenses. .
Six players on Arizona State’s roster began their careers at Texas, including Alford. Nearly 20 Sun Devils also play high school football in the state, giving them plenty of motivation to take on the Longhorns.
Peach Bowl odds and predictions
Texas is one of the strongest teams in college football, but the Longhorns have struggled to pull away from opponents all season, especially on the road. Since the game against Oklahoma, Texas has outscored opponents by an average of just 5.1 points per game, not including a big win against Florida’s third-tier quarterback. That period included a 10-point win over Arkansas and a three-point win over Vanderbilt.
Texas will likely win the battle in the trenches, but Arizona State running back Cam Skatebo should keep this matchup close until late in the fourth quarter. Pick: Arizona State +13.5
