2025 Peach Bowl

The Arizona State Sun Devils received the opening kickoff, finishing the game's first drive with a 39-yard field goal. The Texas Longhorns, led by quarterback Quinn Ewers, answered with a touchdown caught by DeAndre Moore. Arizona State proceeded to go three-and-out on their next possession, punting to returner Silas Bolden who made a 75-yard run for another touchdown, bringing Texas to a 14-3 lead by the end of the first quarter. The Sun Devils offense struggled in the second quarter, making two turnovers on downs followed by a blocked field goal on their next drive, with lead rusher Cam Skattebo being held to only 54 yards during the first half of the game. On the other hand, the Longhorns were able to net a field goal, and the first half ended with a 17-3 Texas lead.^[11]

In the third quarter, the Sun Devils made a strong push to the goal line, but they were stuffed on fourth down only 2 yards away from the Texas end zone, turning the ball over to the Longhorns. On the next play, the ball was fumbled into the end zone. Ewers recovered the fumble but was quickly tackled by Shamari Simmons for an Arizona State safety. The next drive produced another field goal for the Sun Devils, bringing the game to 17-8.^[12]

Texas had possession of the ball at the start of the fourth quarter, and finished their drive with another touchdown made by Ewers on a five yard scramble. With Texas leading 24-8 and only ten minutes left in the clock, the fate of the game appeared to be in the Longhorns' hands. Skattebo was shown on broadcast vomiting "profusely" on the sideline, which he later attributed to a breakfast sandwich.^[12][13] The Sun Devils were able to mount a slow drive in response, chaining nine plays to reach the Texas 42-yard line. On a game-deciding fourth-and-2, with 6:42 left on the clock, Skattebo unexpectedly grabbed the ball and launched it down the field for his only pass of the game. Malik McClain, who had only appeared in one other game as a redshirt that season, caught the ball and ran it to the end zone for a celebrated 42-yard touchdown, followed by a successful two-point conversion that brought the game to an 8-point deficit.^[14]

Momentum continued to shift in Arizona State's favor, as just two plays later, Ewers threw a deep ball that was intercepted by cornerback Javan Robinson on the ASU 21-yard line. On the next play of the game, quarterback Sam Leavitt immediately threw a 62-yard pass to Skattebo, who wrestled several yards upfield with his helmet flying off as he was tackled. The play was called for a face mask penalty against the Longhorns, bringing the Sun Devils back into the red zone after just one play. Following an incomplete pass and a defensive pass interference penalty, Skattebo was able to finish the drive with a 2-yard rush for a touchdown. Skattebo also rushed for another successful two-point conversion, bringing the game to an unanticipated tie.^[15]

However, the Longhorns now had possession of the ball with five minutes left on the clock. Texas marched to the ASU 30-yard line but were halted on fourth down, giving them an opportunity for a 48-yard field goal to break the tie with long-time Texas kicker Bert Auburn. But the Longhorns missed the kick. With 1:39 on the clock, the Sun Devils attempted to break the tie themselves, but they were unable to reach field goal range, and were forced to punt back to the Longhorns. Ewers led a strong drive all the way to the 20-yard line, giving them another chance for a 39-yard field goal. With two seconds left in regulation, the Longhorns brought out Auburn again, who was 10 for 10 on field goals under 40 yards for the season.^[16] Auburn's kick bounced off the uprights, narrowly missing the field goal and bringing the game into overtime.^[11][15]

The Sun Devils won the coin flip for first possession to start overtime, and through a series of runs by Leavitt and Skattebo, made it to the end zone for a touchdown on a 3-yard rush by Skattebo. The Longhorns would now need to make a touchdown their next possession or they would lose the game. After two unsuccessful passes, an unsuccessful rush, and a penalty, the Longhorns had the game on the line on 4th-and-13. Ewers noticed a blitz from Arizona State and called a max protect audible (meaning Tight End Gunnar Helm joined the five offensive linemen and running back in pass protection), following which he delivered a 28-yard pass to receiver Matthew Golden who caught it in the endzone for a touchdown, bringing the game into double overtime.

Texas received the ball again to start, and on their first play, Ewers completed a 25-yard pass to tight end Gunnar Helm for another touchdown, followed by a successful two-point conversion caught by Golden. With the roles now reversed, Arizona State had possession of the ball with the game on the line. Leavitt made a 13-yard pass to Skattebo to bring the Sun Devils to the 12-yard line, followed by an incomplete pass and a 2-yard rush that brought the game to 3rd down on the 10-yard line. Leavitt threw a pass intended for Melquan Stovall, but it was ultimately intercepted by Texas safety Andrew Mukuba, ending the game by possession. The Texas Longhorns won the game 39-31 after two overtimes, allowing them to advance in the playoffs.^[11][15] The game was regarded as one of the greatest Peach Bowls of all time.^[17][18][19]

• Game statistics at statbroadcast.com