ATLANTA -- No. 5 seed Texas experienced all of the emotions on Wednesday in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal game at the Peach Bowl. The Longhorns led No. 4 seed Arizona State by 16 points in the fourth quarter but wound up trailing in overtime. After pulling level by scoring a touchdown on fourth-and-13, Texas emerged with a 39-31 win in double overtime.
The victory advances Texas to the semifinals against No. 8 Ohio State, which blasted No. 1 Oregon 41-21 in the Rose Bowl on Wednesday. The Longhorns and Buckeyes (12-2) will play in the Cotton Bowl on January 10 in Arlington, Texas.
During the second overtime, Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers threw a go-ahead 25-yard touchdown to Gunnar Helm. The Longhorns' Andrew Mukuba intercepted Sam Leavitt on the ensuing possession, clinching the win for Texas (13-2). Ewers completed 20 of 30 passes for 322 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. Matthew Golden caught seven passes for 149 yards and one score.
On the opposite side, Arizona State’s Cam Skattebo had 242 all-purpose yards, including 143 rushing, to go along with three total touchdowns for the Sun Devils (11-3).
After Skattebo rushed for a 3-yard touchdown on overtime's opening possession, Ewers connected with Golden for a game-tying 28-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-13. This remarkable play was one of the biggest moments Ewers has delivered during his college career. "I thought there were a couple of things... there were layers to the whole thing," Texas coach Steve Sarkisian noted about the team's preparation and execution.
Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham reflected on the heartache of the loss, acknowledging, "At the end of the day, the best team is the team... it should hurt and be painful." His comments highlighted the emotional weight the defeat carried for his team, emphasizing the high stakes and commendable performance, regardless of the outcome.
Trailing by 14 at halftime, Arizona State took its opening drive of the second half to Texas' 2-yard line but was turned away on third and fourth downs, marking their third turnover on downs. Meanwhile, Texas's Ewers was under pressure, yet he managed to navigate it successfully. After facing adversity earlier, the Longhorns found the end zone when Ewers executed a 5-yard rush with 10:17 left to play.
Arizona State was persistent, with Skattebo's 42-yard touchdown pass to Malik McClain narrowing the deficit, and Leavitt's pass to Xavier Guillory for the successful two-point conversion leveled the score at 31-31 with just five minutes remaining. This late-game pressure kept fans on edge as the game approached overtime.
Despite Texas kicker Bert Auburn missing attempts on consecutive drives—including one as time expired—both teams displayed resilience. Texas initially took the lead with Kieffer's 39-yard field goal at the 8:59 mark of the first quarter, but Ewers quickly answered with a 23-yard touchdown pass to DeAndre Moore Jr.
Texas also added Silas Bolden's impressive 75-yard punt return touchdown, extending their lead to 14-3, and wrapped the first half with a 17-3 advantage after blocking Kieffer's 36-yard attempt just before halftime.
Looking forward, Texas will now face Ohio State, renewing their rivalry from earlier encounters. The Longhorns previously won the last matchup on January 5, 2009, and intend to maintain their winning streak against the Buckeyes, especially after their recent commanding victory over Oregon.
This thrilling double-overtime victory not only highlights the Longhorns' capabilities but sets the stage for what promises to be another exciting matchup on January 10, as college football fans eagerly anticipate the semifinals.