It was a dull game that seemed instantly forgettable, until Arizona State stepped it up a notch with a brilliant late comeback that nearly pulled off the monster upset.
Even as the fourth seed, the Sun Devils were 13.5 point underdogs. Instead of meekly tapping out, they returned roaring. Here are five takeaways from the fantastic CFP classic.
Texas 39, Arizona State 31 2OT: Peach Bowl 5 Takeaways
5. Can I have my Heisman ballot back?
It is a fight I have never gotten close to winning. I believe the Heisman voting should be held after the entire season has concluded.
Yes, it should matter if a candidate is a star and leader on a team that performs well in bowl games and the College Football Playoff.
I voted for Ashton Jeanty 1, Travis Hunter 3 (because I was a wimp and did not include Shedeur Sanders), and Cam Skattebo 2.
On a second try, Skattebo, who was so close to being my number one when we did this for real, was the most outstanding and valuable.
Against this loaded Texas defense, he only ran 30 times for 143 yards and two touchdowns, led the team with eight receptions for 99 yards, threw a 42-yard touchdown pass, and ran for a two-point conversion to tie the game at 24.
Texas won, but it was 4’s game.
4. Texasing is a real thing
Texas has enough talent to win the national championship. It combines speed, skill, and depth.
It is one of the wealthiest schools in the game, at least in terms of athletics, it is unconstrained, and it does everything it can to make life difficult for itself.
It begins with an explosion that sends the score up 14-3. It kept Arizona State out of the end zone until the wild late run in the final 6:30 of regulation, when it made things far too interesting.
Missed field goals, a terrible play call that resulted in an interception, and fewer than 30 carries until overtime: the team has an odd habit of failing to play to its full potential for the entire 60 minutes. The Longhorns made it out alive, but that will not work against Ohio State.
3. The Texas targeting non-call
Everything ended up working out.
It was tied at 24, and on third and 15 in the final seconds, Melquan Stovall made an incredible catch and was erased. The two helmets collided, Stovall fell to the turf, and the officials ruled that it was not targeting, which it appeared to be regardless of whether you like the rule or not.
It was a strangely horrible no-call, forcing ASU to punt and nearly costing the team the game. Despite all of the screaming, yelling, and anguish, the Sun Devils had numerous other opportunities to overcome it.
They got a break when UT kicker Bert Auburn missed the 38-yard field goal that would have won the game, and they needed two overtimes to win.
It was a bad call that ruined the game’s ending, but Texas eventually made that extra play to escape alive and move on.
2. Quinn Ewers is better than (almost) everyone thinks
Texas can not seem to get Ewers out quickly enough.
Arch Manning is waiting in the wings, and everyone wants to see him shine. In the meantime, all Ewers has done is get Texas to the four-team College Football Playoff for the second consecutive season.
He threw a key interception, but he finished 20-of-30 for 322 yards, three touchdowns, and one rushing score.
With all of Arizona State’s momentum on his side, Ewers hit two overtime touchdown passes, converted a two-pointer, and finished the job.
1. Really? THIS was the best College Football Playoff game so far?
We will have to wait and see what Notre Dame and Georgia do in the Sugar Bowl, but all four first-round games were rough, Penn State rolled past Boise State, and Ohio State went full yeeeeeeeeeesh on Oregon in the Rose Bowl.
This was boring.
Texas recovered quickly, Arizona State tried but failed to score a touchdown, and we were all waiting for this to end so we could move on to the main event in Pasadena.
Instead, Arizona State was brilliant. It increased its intensity several notches, outplayed the far more talented Longhorns, and ended up playing one of the best games in the College Football Playoff’s 10.5-year history.
This is the game that gave me a little hope. One of the dismissed teams may have the potential to make a significant impact next year.
Texas, Ohio State, Penn State, and Georgia/Notre Dame were the winners. Here we go.
