By Jacob Seliga
Lead Writer
On Wednesday morning, Arizona State and Texas will meet to kickoff the new year in Atlanta, as the Sun Devils and Longhorns will face off for a spot in the Cotton bowl.
The SEC force is going up against the new Big 12 power that took over its spot on the throne of the conference and with it is an underlying recruiting rivalry.
Kenny Dillingham and his staff have made it a priority to recruit Texas and get into a battle with the Longhorns for the top kids in the state in the process. This game will go a long way in determining who wins that battle.
Tale of the Tape
Peach Bowl: Arizona State Sun Devils (11-2) vs Texas Longhorns (12-2), 11AM, ESPN
Arizona State Sun Devils (11-2) (Losses to Texas Tech, Cincinnati)
Key Stats:
Rushing Offense: 198.8 yards per game, No. 18 nationally
Passing Offense: 224.4 yards per game, No. 62 nationally
Scoring Defense: 21.3 points allowed per game, No. 21 nationally
Total Yardage: 333.2 yards allowed per game, No. 27 nationally
Key Players:
Cam Skattebo (RB): 1,568 rushing yards, 19 rushing touchdowns, 37 receptions, 506 receiving yards, 3 receiving touchdowns
Myles “Ghost” Rowser (S): 3 interceptions, 93 tackles, 5 pass breakups
Xavier Guillory (WR):. 320 receiving yards, 19 receptions, 5 receiving touchdowns
Arizona State keys to victory:
1. Have to win first and second down
2. Have to generate pressure on Ewers
3. Establish a connection with Guillory and Melquan Stovall early
Texas Longhorns (12-2) (Losses to No. 2 Georgia)
Key Stats:
Rushing Offense: 173.5 yards per game, No. 46 nationally
Passing Offense: 275.3 yards per game, No. 15 nationally
Scoring Defense: 13.3 points allowed per game, No. 2 nationally
Total Yardage: 261.4 yards allowed per game, No. 2 nationally
Key Players:
Anthony Hill Jr (LB): 99 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 17 tackles for loss
Jahdae Barron (DB): 50 tackles, 5 interceptions, 11 pass breakups
Quinn Ewers (QB): 2,867 passing yards, 26 passing touchdowns, 66.5 completion percentage
Texas keys to Victory:
1. Protect the football
2. Have to finish tackles
3. Score early and establish a rhythm
Prediction: Arizona State 30 Texas 27
If someone was to break down the consistent trends in upsets in college football, what would they find?
Most of the time, they’d see a team control the clock with a talented running back or great quarterback play, a team that can force turnovers, and a team that has confidence.
The Arizona State Sun Devils check each and every single one of those boxes.
The first thing that jumps out in the Sun Devils favor has been how turnover prone the Longhorns have shown to be at times this year.
Through 14 games, Texas has turned the ball over at an average of two times per game which ranks in the bottom 30 nationally.
Arizona State is No. 8 in the country in forcing turnovers, forcing an average of 2.1 per game.
Texas has also shown troubles finishing drives in the red zone as the Longhorns have only converted 78.95% of their drives into touchdowns which is No. 104 overall.
In the second half of the SEC championship, the Longhorns did not face Georgia’s starting quarterback Carson Beck as Gunner Stockton had taken over due to injury.
The mobile Stockton extended plays, threw on the run and created fits for the Texas defense as his rushing ability led the way in the Bulldogs victory over Georgia.
With Leavitt having shown to be a better rusher than Stockton and a better overall passer, his ability to extend plays and keep drives going with his legs bodes well for the Sun Devils offense.
But the biggest reason for the Sun Devils potential success on Wednesday starts and finishes with Heisman trophy finalist Cam Skattebo.
The do-it-all back is the most lethal offensive weapon the Longhorns have faced this year and in both of Texas’ losses to Georgia, running back Trevor Etienne was the difference in both matchups.
Georgia was able to utilize Etienne in both the rushing and receiving game in a way that is similar to the strengths that Skattebo possesses.
Entering this game, Arizona State has the better quarterback statistically, the best overall player on the field, and the easier path to victory even though their roster is “less talented” than the Longhorns.
Arizona State has had a dream season and a turnaround almost no one could have predicted, but even though everyone in the nation is doubting them, they believe.
The Sun Devils have a certain swagger, a confidence that no matter who is in front of them that they can turn it into a street fight.
And that confidence coupled with their talent will be enough in this matchup.
Arizona State is playing with house money, and they’re about to flip the college football world on its head.
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