TEMPE, AZ — In a dramatic Peach Bowl quarterfinal, Texas narrowly avoided a College Football Playoff upset, defeating Arizona State 39-31 in double overtime. The game ended with a pivotal interception by Longhorns safety Andrew Makuba, sealing Texas’ spot in the semifinals.
The Sun Devils, ranked No. 10, showed resilience throughout the game, overcoming a 16-point deficit in the fourth quarter. Running back Cam Skattebo capped off their comeback with a 3-yard touchdown run in the first overtime, giving Arizona State (11-3) its first lead of the day against No. 4 Texas (13-2).
Texas’ Dramatic Response
Facing a do-or-die fourth-and-13 on their first overtime possession, Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers connected with Matthew Golden for a stunning 28-yard touchdown, tying the game and forcing a second overtime.
Switching sides at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Ewers wasted no time, firing a 25-yard touchdown pass to Gunnar Helms on the first play of the second overtime. A successful 2-point conversion to Golden further pressured the Sun Devils.
Heartbreak for Arizona State
Arizona State’s hopes rested on quarterback Sam Leavitt, but his pass was intercepted by Makuba at the 3-yard line, ending the game in heartbreaking fashion.
Despite entering the game as two-touchdown underdogs, the Sun Devils delivered a thrilling performance that kept fans on the edge of their seats.
Texas now advances in the College Football Playoff, while Arizona State’s impressive season concludes with an 11-3 record and a valiant effort on one of the sport’s biggest stages.