3 Reasons Longhorns Might Suffer from CFP Disorder

Editor: This story is part of a two-part preview looking at the strengths and weaknesses of Texas football compared to its Peach Bowl opponent, Arizona State football.

The first round of the College Football Playoff went well for the favorites, including the Texas football team.

All four top seeds won in convincing fashion, setting up a tasty slate of CFP quarterfinals. Again, the Longhorns (12-2) will try to avoid an upset when they travel to Atlanta to play Arizona State (11-2) in the Peach Bowl on Jan. 1 (noon, ESPN).

BUY TICKETS TO TEXAS VS. ARIZONA STATE IN PEACH BOWL

Texas, which received an outright win after losing in the SEC title game, is the favorite despite being the fifth seed, and Arizona State, which won the Big 12, is the fourth seed. Can Arizona State be the first team to pull off a CFP surprise this season and send the Longhorns home early? Which team will travel to the Cotton Bowl to face the winner of Ohio State and Oregon in a national semifinal?

Here are three reasons why the Longhorns could be in trouble against the Sun Devils:

Cam Skattebo is elite – and not Arizona State’s only weapon

The Texas defense’s first goal is to stop the best player on Arizona State’s roster, and that is Cam Skattebo, who finished fifth in Heisman Trophy voting. The exhausting tailback combines a workhorse role with elite efficiency, carrying the ball 263 times for 1,568 yards and 19 touchdowns. Notably, he is also a potent weapon through the air, amassing 506 yards.

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But if the Longhorns can stop Skattebo, the Sun Devils have a quarterback who can make that decision painful. The Sun Devils’ breakout season was fueled in part by redshirt freshman QB Sam Leavitt, a transfer from Michigan State. Leavitt was statistically the most efficient quarterback in the Big 12 this year, completing 63.2% of his passes for 2,663 yards and 24 touchdowns. He is also a running threat with 383 rushing yards and five touchdowns.

Overall, Arizona State is one of the most versatile offenses Texas has faced this season.

Arizona State is well-positioned to capitalize on turnover issues

The inability to compete in football has been one of this Texas team’s biggest bugbears this year.

The chronic turnover problems don’t seem to have an actual cause, but they still occur again and again. Fumbles, drops, batted passes – you name it, Texas spent 2024 collecting all the high-turnover Infinity Stones. The Longhorns gave the ball away 23 times. Georgia is the team with the second highest turnover rate on the field with 18 turnovers.

Although the turnover woes have hampered Texas, it hasn’t hindered the Longhorns, in large part because their defense is tied for the lead in the country with 29 takeaways.

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But if Texas gives the ball away too often against Arizona State, the Sun Devils might not be too obligated to give it back. Arizona State has only recorded eight turnovers this year, second in the nation.

Arizona State has the tools to shorten the game against Texas Football

The Longhorns are better than the Sun Devils on paper. The Horns are loaded with NFL talent at nearly every position and are an experienced group after a trip to the playoffs last season. This lead results in a 13½ point sports betting line.

But Arizona State has what it takes to execute one of the most proven underdog strategies. With Skattebo, an elite running back who can control an offense at times, the Sun Devils are fully capable of controlling the clock and running the game short.

Arizona State ranks 15th in the country in average time of possession in this game. Quinn Ewers, Quintrevion Wisner and Texas’ high-armed offense can’t hurt the Sun Devils when they’re on the sidelines.

Contact Texas Insider David Eckert by email at [email protected]. Follow the American-Statesman on Facebook and X for more. Your subscription makes this kind of work possible. Get access to all of our best content with this great offer.

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3 Reasons Longhorns Might Suffer from CFP Disorder

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