The College Football Playoff is intensifying, with the Texas Longhorns set to face the Arizona State Sun Devils in a high-stakes quarterfinal showdown at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl in Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Arizona State, making its first Peach Bowl appearance since 1970, enters with an 11-2 record and a Big 12 championship. Their star player, running back Cam Skattebo, has rushed for 1,568 yards and scored 19 touchdowns, making him a key threat.
Texas earned its spot in the quarterfinals with a 38-24 win over Clemson. Quarterback Quinn Ewers, boasting a 66.5% completion rate, has accumulated 2,867 yards, 26 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions.
As the two teams prepare for this thrilling contest, here’s everything you need to know about the matchup, with predictions from major outlets:
USA TODAY: Texas over No. 4 Arizona State
Paul Myerberg notes, “Texas benefits from its No. 5 seed. Arizona State enters on a six-game win streak, but the Longhorns’ defense presents a much tougher challenge. The Sun Devils will need another big performance from Skattebo to upset Texas.”
ESPN: Texas 33, Arizona State 20
Adam Rittenberg predicts, “Quinn Ewers’ efficiency and the Longhorns’ defense will make the difference in advancing to the next round. Texas is effective against teams outside of Georgia’s competition, and the Sun Devils’ defense has shown vulnerabilities.”
CBS Sports: Arizona State
The CBS Sports staff writes, “Texas has been solid all season, but their narrow victories, especially away from home, suggest this game will be closer than expected. Arizona State’s Cam Skattebo could keep the Sun Devils in the game late.”
The stage is set for an epic College Football Playoff quarterfinal. Stay tuned as Texas and Arizona State battle for a spot in the next round!
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