ATLANTA, — The 2025 Peach Bowl was one for the ages, as the Texas Longhorns defeated Arizona State football in double overtime 39-31. The Longhorns looked to have had it in the bag in the first half, but a scrappy Sun Devil team managed to swing back in the second. But in the end, it would be the Longhorns that leave Atlanta with the Peach Bowl trophy.
Arizona State looked down for the count in the first half. The Sun Devils got the ball to start the game and ended the drive with a field goal. Texas started off hot by scoring on its first two plays in its first drive. Later, Longhorns wide receiver Silas Bolden would return a punt for a touchdown. The Longhorn’s defense held Sun Devils Star running back Cameron Skattebo to under 50 rushing yards and quarterback Sam Leavitt was only 15/27 for 99 yards. By halftime, the Longhorns were up 17-3, and things looked dire for the Sun Devils.
The second half, however, was a different story.
ASU ignited the spark they needed, as Skattebo would rush for two touchdowns and the Sun Devils rallied back to end regulation with a 24-24 tie. Texas and Arizona State would battle it out in not one, but two overtimes.
The Sun Devils struck first with a Skattebo rushing touchdown to go ahead 31-24. Texas QB Quinn Ewers answered right back with a touchdown pass of his own on fourth and 13, a play ASU fans will remember forever. Texas would score a touchdown on its first play of double overtime with a pass from Ewers to tight end Gunnar Helm. Arizona State would try to even the score, but an interception by Texas defensive back Andrew Mukuba sealed the game.
Even though Arizona State did not get the outcome it was hoping for, Sun Devil head coach Kenny Dillingham is building something special in Tempe. Players, staff, and fans alike have a very bright future to look forward to. Here are three takeaways now that we’ve had a few days to process the game.
Three takes from Arizona State’s first CFP appearance
The Heisman needs to be reconsidered
Skattebo transferred to the Valley of Sun in 2022 from Sacramento State. In 2023, Skattebo ran for 783 yards on 164 attempts with nine touchdowns. Little did people know this was just the beginning of a legendary Sun Devil career.
The star back has been tearing up opposing defenses all season long. This season, Skattebo has had 1,568 rushing yards on 263 attempts with 19 touchdowns, averaging 6.0 yards per game. The Longhorns were Skattebo’s biggest test, as it was considered to be the best defense in college football. The Texas defense only averaged 261.4 yards per game (second national) and 13.3 points for opposing offenses, (second nationally).
That was no problem for Skattebo as he finished the game with 30 carries for 143 yards and two touchdowns and threw a touchdown pass of his own to senior receiver Malik McLaine. Skattebo would also win the Peach Bowl offensive MVP, which hasn’t been won by a player on the losing team in over two decades.
Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo sits on the ground after a carry against Texas’s stout defense in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on Jan. 1, 2025. (Photo by Daniel Appel/Sun Devil Daily)
Prior to the game, Skattebo said he “feels like I’m the best,” in a press conference over Zoom. The statement started grabbing a lot of attention throughout the media and people wanted to see if he could “walk the walk” against Texas. With a game like that, many people are wondering if Skattebo should have gotten a trip to New York, or be holding up the Heisman trophy.
“ASU’s changed my life forever, in a good way,” Skattebo said after the Peach Bowl. “Simple. They’ve supported me through everything, put me in a position to be successful, so I thank everybody in the ASU community, Coach Dillingham and his staff, and this kid next to me right here [Leavitt].”
Does anyone know what targeting is?
Many Sun Devil fans were furious over a penalty that was not called by the refs. In the fourth quarter, Leavitt threw a pass to graduate wide receiver Melquan Stovall, with Stovall taking a massive hit from Texas DB Michael Taafe. Taafe’s helmet collided with Stovall’s, with many ASU fans thinking it was a targeting, but after discussion, the referees did not call a penalty.
Sun Devil fans were enraged that there was no penalty, as it would have given Arizona State extra yardage for a potential game-winning field goal. The Sun Devils would then have to punt the ball back to Texas.
The NCAA states targeting as any hit that “goes beyond making a legal tackle or a legal block” and prohibits players from initiating contact with the “crown of the helmet.” Whether the penalty was called or not, this is a play that is going to be talked about for a while and how it could have significantly impacted the game.
Redzone struggles held back Arizona State football
Arizona State’s offense managed to get a field goal on its first drive of the game but would struggle to capitalize again until the fourth quarter. In the second and third quarter, the Sun Devils would turn the ball over on downs three times, all within Texas territory. Once by Leavitt taking a sack and Skattebo getting stopped dead in his tracks twice by the Texas defensive line.
The Sun Devils’ shaky kicking game continued as kicker Carston Kieffer’s kick was blocked by the Longhorns in the second quarter. The Texas defense lived up to their hype by keeping ASU’s offense in check until the fourth quarter.
Leavitt spoke on the issue, saying “I just feel like it was red zone stuff. We move the ball pretty effectively actually, we just need to convert in the redone. I take accountability for a lot of stuff that happened.”
“They were playing really good red zone defense. Looking back at it, I didn’t put our guys in the best position to succeed too many times,” said Dillingham. “I’m going to reflect on it and I’m going to look on how I can be better to put them in a better position to be successful.”
However, the Arizona State fanbase could not be more proud of how their team defied the odds this season. From predicted to finish last in the Big 12, to winning the conference and appearing in the college football playoff, Arizona State shocked the world this season. Fans, staff, and players alike have nothing but high hopes for next season and the future to come.
Thank you for reading Sun Devil Daily! Follow us on Twitter to stay up to date with Arizona State news! For feedback, questions, concerns, or to apply for a writing position, please email our Managing Editor at [email protected]. Also, make sure to check out the Sun Devil Daily shop for merchandise! Forks up!