ATLANTA — Texas avoids the first major upset of the College Football Playoff, scores a fourth and long touchdown pass to stay in the game, and Andrew Mukuba's interception at the end of two overtimes leads to Cam Scatterbo and Arizona They defeated State 39-31 to end the game. Wednesday's Peach Bowl Quarterfinal Classic.
Scatterbo led the Sun Devils from a 16-point deficit in the fourth quarter with a 3-yard touchdown run to start overtime against No. 4 Texas (13-2), giving his team the lead for the first time all day.
No. 10 Arizona State, a two-touchdown underdog according to BetMGM Sportsbook, was on the verge of victory when Texas faced fourth-and-13 on the first overtime possession. But Quinn Ewers found Matthew Golden, who got behind two defenders and ran for a 28-yard touchdown.
After moving to the other side of Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Ewers threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Gunnar Helms on the next play, followed by a two-point conversion pass to Golden.
The Longhorns finally overcame Arizona State (11-3) when Mukuba picked off a Sam Leavitt pass for a 3-pointer to end the game.
After lopsided results in the first five games of the expanded 12-team playoffs, the format ultimately sent Texas home to face either No. 1 Oregon State or No. 6 Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl semifinals on Jan. 10. It created a classic match against Dai. , were playing in the Rose Bowl on Wednesday.
Despite having the upper hand for much of the game, the Longhorns scored two early touchdowns and took a comfortable 24-8 lead on a 5-yard scoring run from Ewers with just over 10 minutes left. It looked like it did.
But Skatebo and the Sun Devils were just warming up.
A running back who calls himself the best in the nation, Skatebo showed every facet of his all-around game and backed up his bravery with a timeless performance.
First, he came on with four outs and second base, throwing a 42-yard touchdown pass to Malik McClain, giving the Sun Devils a chance for a successful two-point conversion.
Scatterbo then snuck off the sideline and took a 62-yard throw from Leavitt, but had his helmet ripped off at the end of the play, which seemed like the only way to beat him.
That set up a 2-yard touchdown run on a Bucs bowling ball, and it was no surprise that Skatebo also converted the two-point conversion to tie the game at 24 with five minutes left.
Texas had two chances to win in regulation, but Bart Auburn missed a 48-yard field goal to the right and then hit one from 38 yards into the left upright as time expired.
