- Texas is a 12.5-point favorite over Arizona State in the Peach Bowl.
ATLANTA — The inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff (CFP) began with a historic format, and after a largely one-sided first round, the field has been narrowed to eight contenders.
Penn State and Boise State will open the second round on New Year’s Eve, followed by Texas and Arizona State kicking off a triple-header to welcome the New Year.
The Longhorns are making their second consecutive CFP appearance, now with a playoff victory under their belt. Meanwhile, Arizona State is competing in its first-ever CFP game after earning a top-four seed and a first-round bye as Big 12 champions (the fourth-highest-ranked conference champion this year).
Texas and Arizona State are set to clash in the Peach Bowl, hosted at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. This marks the second time in a month that Texas will play at this venue, following their loss to Georgia in the SEC Championship. It will also be the second consecutive game in which Bevo will not be in attendance.
Texas vs. Arizona State | TV channel, game time, and key storylines
Time: Wednesday, Jan. 1 at noon CT (1 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. MT / 10 a.m. PT)
Channel: ESPN
Key matchup: Arizona State RB Cam Skattebo vs. Texas’ defensive front. Skattebo delivered an electrifying season, finishing fifth in Heisman Trophy voting and becoming one of the few players in FBS history to surpass 2,000 scrimmage yards. He rushed for 1,568 yards, averaging 6.0 yards per carry, and scored 19 rushing touchdowns. However, the Longhorns’ defense presents a formidable challenge. Texas ranks 11th nationally in rushing defense, allowing just 104.5 yards per game.Players to watch:
- Texas: CB Jahdae Barron. The senior and Jim Thorpe Award winner, recognized as the nation’s top defensive back, leads the Longhorns with five interceptions and 11 pass breakups. If Barron and Texas’ elite secondary can neutralize Arizona State’s passing attack, the Sun Devils will struggle to generate offense, even with Skattebo in the backfield.
- Arizona State: QB Sam Leavitt. Leavitt confidently claimed he’s the better quarterback in his matchup with Texas’ Quinn Ewers. Now, the redshirt freshman must deliver on his promise. After transferring from Michigan State, Leavitt played a pivotal role in Arizona State’s dramatic turnaround, completing 63.2% of his passes for 2,663 yards, 24 touchdowns, and just five interceptions. He’s also a dual threat, rushing for 383 yards and five TDs.
Series record: Texas leads 1-0 (52-34 victory in the 2007 Holiday Bowl).
What’s next: The winner will advance to the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 10 in Arlington, Texas, to face either Oregon or Ohio State in the CFP semifinals.
Editor’s note: The Associated Press contributed to this article.
