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Arizona State falls to Texas in double overtime: Peach Bowl analysis, highlights, stats

The Sun Devils and Longhorns played an instant classic in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals

Ben Sherman

Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo (4) cuts past Texas defensive lineman Jermayne Lole (99) during the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on Jan 1, 2025, in Atlanta, Ga.
Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo (4) cuts past Texas defensive lineman Jermayne Lole (99) during the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl on Jan 1, 2025, in Atlanta, Ga. / Michael Chow/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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The Peach Bowl didn't end how Arizona State was hoping, but the Sun Devils proved they belong on college football's biggest stage.

Nobody expected Kenny Dillingham's team to be in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, and the betting odds reflected that — the Sun Devils were 12.5-point underdogs to the Texas Longhorns.

In a thrilling, double-overtime game with multiple twists and turns, Texas outlasted Arizona State 39-31 in double overtime.

Read our full game recap below, including big-play highlights, stats and analysis:

Final Stats: Texas 39, Arizona State 31

Arizona State dominated Texas statistically, outgaining the Longhorns 510-375, including 214-53 on the ground. They also dominated time of possession 37:54 to 22:06 and ran 97 plays to just 60 for Texas. Big plays were the difference: Texas scored on a 75-yard punt return and a two-play TD drive that covered 77 yards.

Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo was the best player on the field and showed why he deserved to be a Heisman Trophy finalist. After Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty fell flat in the Broncos' blowout loss to Penn State, Skattebo put on a show vs Texas. He finished with 30 carries for 143 yards and 2 touchdowns and caught 8 passes for 99 yards. At one point in the fourth quarter he had more total yards than the entire Texas team. Skattebo also threw a 42-yard touchdown pass and punched in a two-point conversion.

Arizona State QB Sam Leavitt finished 24-of-46 for 222 yards, no touchdowns and one interception. He was magical with his legs, rushing 13 times for 60 yards, including an incredible 16-yard scramble on a 3rd-and-14 play in the first overtime. But the game ended with Leavitt throwing an interception on a 3rd-and-8 play in double overtime. It was just his sixth interception of the season.

Second Overtime Live Updates

Final score: Texas 39, Arizona State 31, 2OT

Texas interception: Sam Leavitt throws an interception on 3rd-and-8 and Texas wins, 39-31. What a heartbreaking finish to an incredible comeback and unbelievable game. The non-call on the targeting play will loom large over this one.

Touchdown Texas: On their first play of the second overtime, the Longhorns score on a 25-yard pass from Quinn Ewers to Gunnar Helm. The two-point conversion is good. Texas 39, Arizona State 31

First Overtime Live Updates

Touchdown Texas: The Longhorns respond on a huge 4th-and-8, 28-yard touchdown pass from Quinn Ewers to Matthew Golden. Arizona State 31, Texas 31. We're heading to the second overtime.

Touchdown Arizona State! Cam Skattebo does it again! He breaks three tackles to score on a 3-yard TD run to give Arizona State a 31-24 overtime lead.

Arizona State converts 4th down: The Sun Devils go for it on 4th-and-1 and convert to keep their first overtime possession alive.

This has been, by far, the best game of the College Football Playoffs.

Fourth Quarter Live Updates

Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo (4) runs past Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. (0) and Texas linebacker Liona Lefau
Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo (4) runs past Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. (0) and Texas linebacker Liona Lefau (18). / Michael Chow/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Texas misses another field goal! What just happened! The Longhorns miss a potential game-winning 38-yard field goal at the buzzer and we're going to overtime. Texas 24, Arizona State 24, end of regulation.

Officials miss targeting call: Somehow, Texas is not flagged for targeting on a helmet to helmet hit that knocks Arizona State WR Melquan Stovall out of the game.

Texas misses field goal! Bert Auburn misses a potential go-ahead 48-yard field goal, and Arizona State takes over with 1:31 left on its own 30-yard line.

Texas driving: With the game tied 24-24, the Longhorns have the ball 1st-and-15 at Arizona State's 35-yard line with 2 minutes to play.

Texas 24, Arizona State 24: With five minutes to play, somehow, some way, this game is tied. And Cam Skattebo is clearly the best player on the field. Arizona State's senior running back has 26 carries for 133 yards and a touchdown, plus 6 catches for 83 yards. He has also thrown a 42-yard touchdown pass and converted a two-point try. Skattebo has more total yards than the entire Texas team.

Arizona State touchdown! Tie game! After a pass interference call in the end zone, Cam Skattebo powers in from the 2-yard line to score his first touchdown of the game. Then he scores the 2-point conversion to tie the game at 24-24 with 5 minutes to play. This is unbelievable. Indescribable.

Cam Skattebo huge play! Sam Leavitt hits Skattebo on a 62-yard pass down the left sideline to give Arizona State the ball first-and-goal. This is insane. Skattebo now has 25 carries for 131 yards and 6 catches for 83 yards.

Arizona State interception! Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers throws a duck that Javan Robinson picks off at the Texas 21-yard line. The Sun Devils have the ball back with 5:37 to play, trailing 24-16. That was a terrible pass by Ewers.

Touchdown Arizona State! Are you kidding me! Cam Skattebo throws a 42-yard touchdown pass on 4th-and-2 and the Sun Devils convert the two-point play to make it Texas 24, Arizona State 16 with 6:31 to play.

Cam Skattebo back: After vomiting on the sideline, Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo has returned to the game. He has 24 carries for 116 yards and 5 catches for 21 yards. Texas leads 24-8 with 10 minutes to play.

Texas touchdown: Quinn Ewers scores on a 5-yard scramble to give Texas a likely insurmountable 24-8 lead with 10:17 left in the game. Arizona State has had multiple opportunities to get back into this game, but offensive play calling has killed them.

Cam Skattebo update: Arizona State's running back is vomiting on the sidelines. He's either dehydrated or sick (or both). We'll see if he comes back into the game. He has 23 carries for 110 yards and 4 catches for 19 yards.

Third Quarter Live Updates

Arizona State Sun Devils linebacker Keyshaun Elliott (44) and defensive back Shamari Simmons (7) celebrate after a safety
Arizona State Sun Devils linebacker Keyshaun Elliott (44) and defensive back Shamari Simmons (7) celebrate after a safety against the Texas Longhorns. / Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

End of 3rd quarter: Texas 17, Arizona State 8

Arizona State field goal! Carston Kieffer kicks a 36-yard field goal to make it Texas 17, Arizona State 8 with 41 seconds left in the third quarter. The Sun Devils are dominating time of possession (32:49 to 11:30), but can't finish drives. The play calling has been far too conservative and predictable.

Arizona State safety! After missing the first half because of a targeting suspension, Shamari Simmons makes a huge play for ASU. He busts into the backfield and forces a fumble in the end zone that leads to an Arizona State safety. It's now Texas 17, Arizona State 5 with 7:38 left in the third quarter.

Arizona State turnover on downs: Marcus Arroyo's play-calling in this game has been baffling. He has been completely outcoached by Texas DC Pete Kwiatkowski. On fourth-and-goal from the 2-yard line, Sam Leavitt hands the ball to Cam Skattebo on a play that was all too predictable. Texas hits Skattebo in the backfield and the Longhorns take over on downs with 7:43 left in the third quarter, leading 17-3. After playing with "house money" the last six games, the Sun Devils have been conservative and predictable today. They can't beat Texas playing conservative and predictable.

Texas 3-and-out: The Longhorns go nowhere on their first drive of the second half, and Texas left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. goes down with an injury. We'll see if he returns on the next series.

Texas will start with the ball, leading 17-3.

Halftime Stats: Texas 17, Arizona State 3

Arizona State dominated time of possession — 20:11 to 9:49 — but could only manage three points against the best defense in college football. The Longhorns had three explosive plays that have been the difference in the game so far: two long pass plays and a 75-yard punt return touchdown.

Arizona State QB Sam Leavitt has been running for his life. He completed 15-of-27 passes for 99 yards and was sacked twice. Cam Skattebo has had very little room to run, rushing 13 times for 45 yards.

The bright spot for Arizona State has been its run defense. The Sun Devils have allowed just 19 yards rushing.

Second Quarter Live Updates

Arizona State Sun Devils head coach Kenny Dillingham looks on during the first half of the Peach Bowl
Arizona State Sun Devils head coach Kenny Dillingham looks on during the first half of the Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. / Brett Davis-Imagn Images

Halftime score: Texas 17, Arizona State 3

Arizona State missed field goal: After all that, the Sun Devils miss a 36-yard field goal with 11 seconds left in the first half. The Longhorns got a hand on it and it came up way short. Texas 17, Arizona State 3.

Arizona State fake punt! Finally, Kenny Dillingham breaks out the "house money" game plan. On 4th-and-9 from their own 21-yard line, the Sun Devils throw a pass from punter Kanyon Floyd to Blazen Lono-Wong for 32 yards to pick up a first down. Huge play for ASU with 1:58 left in the first half.

Arizona State turnover on downs: The Sun Devils look ill prepared to play this game. They go for it on 4th-and-10 and Sam Leavitt takes a sack. Texas takes over on its own 38-yard line with 5:09 left in the half, leading 17-3.

Skattebo frustrated: Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo is incredibly frustrated on the sideline. After proclaiming "nobody can stop me" this week, he has 12 carries for 44 yards.

Texas field goal: The Longhorns cap off a 13-play, 72-yard drive with a 22-yard field goal from Bert Auburn to take a 17-3 lead with 8:54 left in the half.

Arizona State turnover on downs: The Sun Devils go for it on 4th-and-2 and Cam Skattebo goes nowhere. The call is puzzling considering how Marcus Arroyo approached the same situation against Iowa State (play action deep shot). Texas takes over on its own 24-yard line, leading 14-3.

First Quarter Live Updates

Arizona State Sun Devils running back Cam Skattebo (4) runs with the ball against the Texas Longhorns during the first half
Arizona State Sun Devils running back Cam Skattebo (4) runs with the ball against the Texas Longhorns during the first half of the Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. / Brett Davis-Imagn Images

End of 1st quarter: Texas 14, Arizona State 3

The Longhorns dominated the scoreboard, but the Sun Devils dominated the ball in the opening quarter. ASU had the ball for 12:55 and ran 20 plays to just 5 for Texas. If ASU can stay in this game, keep an eye on defensive fatigue for the Longhorns.

Texas 3-and-out! Arizona State's defense gets a huge stop to stem the Longhorns' momentum. ASU has the ball back, trailing 14-3 with 4:47 left in the first quarter.

Texas touchdown: After Arizona State goes three-and-out, Silas Bolden retuns a punt 75 yards for a touchdown to give Texas a 14-3 lead. Less than 8 minutes into this game, the Sun Devils are officially in trouble.

Texas touchdown: The Longhorns need just two plays to score on their opening drive: a 54-yard pass to Matthew Golden and a 23-yard touchdown pass from Quinn Ewers to DeAndre Moore Jr. About as bad a start as you can imagine for ASU's defense. Texas 7, ASU 3, 8:14 left in 1st quarter.

Arizona State field goal! Carston Kieffer boots a 39-yard field goal to give Arizona State an early 3-0 lead. The Sun Devils' first drive covered 63 yards in 12 plays. They were aided by two huge penalties on Texas — a running into the punter on fourth down and a 15-yard facemask.

Huge penalty on Texas! The Sun Devils fail to convert on 3rd-and-4, but Texas runs into the punter, giving Arizona State a fresh set of downs.

Pregame Live Updates

The Sun Devils will start with the ball.

More Arizona State & Big 12 Analysis

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Ben Sherman
BEN SHERMAN

Ben Sherman has been covering the sports world for most of his journalism career, including 17 years with The Oregonian/OregonLive. One of his favorite memories was covering the 1999 Fiesta Bowl - the first BCS National Championship Game - at Sun Devil Stadium.

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