The Peach Bowl College Football Playoff quarterfinal between Texas and Arizona State turned into a thrilling classic, with the Longhorns emerging victorious 39-31 in double overtime to advance to the semifinals. Despite entering the game as heavy favorites, Texas faced a tough battle, and the outcome was uncertain until the very end. Arizona State had several missed opportunities, including failed fourth downs and a blocked field goal, which kept the game close.
While the Texas defense deserves credit for stepping up at key moments, including crucial stops, head coach Steve Sarkisian acknowledged that the offense’s inconsistency needs to be addressed moving forward. Texas only ran 60 plays during regulation and overtime, and Sarkisian pointed out struggles in the run game and the offense’s inability to get into a rhythm. The team’s first touchdown came quickly on their opening drive, but they went scoreless until the fourth quarter, despite a special teams touchdown. Arizona State’s defense successfully shut down Texas’ typical offensive strategies, including their crossing routes.
The offense finally found success during overtime, with quarterback Quinn Ewers connecting with Matthew Golden for a clutch touchdown in the first overtime and then finding Gunnar Helm for another touchdown in the second overtime. The Texas defense sealed the win with a critical interception by star safety Andrew Mukuba Jr.
Sarkisian reflected on the team’s resilience and praised their ability to perform under pressure, even if the game wasn’t their cleanest. The Longhorns now look ahead to the Cotton Bowl, where they will face either Ohio State or Oregon, with the opportunity to secure their first National Championship Game appearance since 2010.
