ATLANTA (Dec. 31, 2024) – In keeping with the tradition of recognizing notable team alumni, officials announced today that Aaron Ross and Jake Plummer will be honorary captains of their respective alma maters for this season’s College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl between Texas and Arizona State will be. The two will join the team captains in midfield for the pregame coin toss before kickoff at 1:00 p.m. ET on New Year’s Day at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Former Texas All-American defensive back Aaron Ross will represent the Longhorns. Under his defensive leadership, Ross led Texas to a 44-7 record with three bowl game victories and a BCS National Championship. During his time at Texas, he totaled 205 tackles, 33 pass breakups, 10 interceptions, three forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He has also been the Longhorns’ leading punt returner over the past three seasons, returning 76 punts for 893 yards, which ranks fifth and sixth, respectively, in the Texas all-time record book. During his senior season, Ross was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and was a unanimous First Team All-Big 12 choice. He is also one of only three winners of the Thorpe Award as the nation’s top defensive lineman in the history of Texas. After his college career, Ross was selected 20th overall in the 2007 NFL Draft by the New York Giants. He was a member of two Super Bowl champion teams with the Giants in the 2007 and 2011 seasons and also played professionally for the Jacksonville Jaguars and Baltimore Ravens.

College Football Hall of Fame quarterback Jake Plummer will represent the Arizona State Sun Devils. A First Team All-American in 1996, Plummer finished third for the Heisman Trophy after leading Arizona State to an 11-1 record that included an undefeated regular season and the program’s second Pac-10 title as well as a Rose Bowl space included. The 1996 Pac-10 Player of the Year was also a finalist for the Walter Camp, Davey O’Brien and Johnny Unitas awards as a senior. A two-time First Team All-Pac-10 selection, Plummer led the Sun Devils to a No. 4 national ranking in 1996 while winning the Pop Warner Trophy as the most valuable player on the West Coast. He ranked third in school history with 8,827 career passing yards and also ranked top five in touchdowns (65), pass completions (632) and total offense (8,711 yards). Plummer was selected in the second round of the 1997 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals and played ten years in the NFL for the Cardinals (1997-2002) and Denver Broncos (2003-2006).