The first year of the 12-team College Football Playoff has presented some good matchups. Here is the 2025 Peach Bowl Preview.
Texas won 11 games and made the SEC Championship to get selected as an at-large team for the CFP. They defeated eight bowl-eligible teams this season: Colorado State, Michigan, UTSA, Oklahoma, Vanderbilt, Florida, Arkansas and Texas A&M. Both of their losses came to Georgia, who is also in the CFP field. In the first round, they defeated Clemson, 38-24.
The Longhorns score 35.6 points per game, ranking 20th in the country. They pass for 275.4 yards (ranked 17th) and rush for 173.5 yards per game (ranked 49th)
Quinn Ewers has been the starting quarterback for the Longhorns, while Arch Manning has also played. Ewers has passed for 2,867 yards, 26 touchdowns and 10 interceptions on 66.5 percent completion. Manning has tallied 939 passing yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions on 67.8 percent completion. Eight players have at least 200 receiving yards on the season. Matthew Golden has led the team with 787 yards and eight touchdowns. Tight end Gunnar Helm and Isaiah Bond have also been impressive with 688 and 532 receiving yards respectively.
Three running backs have contributed in a large way for the Longhorns this season. Quintrevion Wisner, Jaydon Blue and Jerrick Gibson have 973, 710 and 377 rushing yards a piece. Texas has used Manning as a runner as well and he has 100 rushing yards on the season.
The defense allows 13.3 points per game, ranking second in the FBS. The Longhorns give up 104.5 rushing yards and 156.9 passing yards per game. Linebacker Anthony Hill has been a playmaker who has racked up 99 tackles. Colin Simmons leads the team with eight sacks, with Hill right behind him at 7.5. Jahdae Barron has been one of the best defensive backs in the country with 11 passes defended and five interceptions.
Arizona State won 11 games, including the Big 12 Championship, to earn the no. 4 seed and a first-round bye. They defeated four bowl-eligible teams this season: Texas State, Kansas State, BYU and Iowa State. One of their losses was to Cincinnati, a team that didn’t make a bowl game, but they didn’t have their starting quarterback in that game.
The Sun Devils score 34.5 points per game, which ranks 26th in the country. They pass for 224.4 yards (ranked 71st) and rush for 198.8 yards per game (ranked 23rd).
Sam Leavitt as led the offense at quarterback after transferring in from Michigan State. He has passed for 2,663 yards, 24 touchdowns and five interceptions on 63.2 percent completion. Five players have at least 200 receiving yards this season. Their leading receiver, Jordyn Tyson, is out for the season. That means running back Cam Skattebo is the team’s new top receiver is running back Cam Skattebo with 506 yards and three touchdowns.
Skattebo has been a star at running back for the Sun Devils, as he has registered 1,568 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns on the ground. Leavitt has supported the run game with 383 rushing yards and five touchdowns. Behind Skattebo at running back, Kyson Brown has 340 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
Defensively, Arizona State gives up 21.3 points per game, ranking 30th. They allow 219.4 passing yards and 117.5 rushing yards per game. Myles Rowser leads the team with 93 total tackles. Clayton Smith and Elijah O’Neal are tied for the team lead with four sacks. Keith Abney II showed ball skills in the secondary with seven passes defended and three interceptions.
Arizona State would’ve struggled to move the ball against Texas even with Tyson healthy. Texas can limit the Sun Devil offense and then score enough to win comfortably.
Texas Longhorns 35 Arizona State Sun Devils 21
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