Atlanta, GA- The Texas dominated Arizona State Sun Devils for three quarters in the 2025 Peach Bowl. The Sun Den Devils led by RB Cam Skattebo climbed back to tie the Longhorns 28-28 to force overtime. After two OT series for each, the Longhorns claimed the win, 39-31, to move on to the semifinal against Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl next week. However, the excitement for many college football fans and especially ASU fans is quelled by one of the most controversial, blatant no-calls witnessed in the modern college football era.
Sun Devils and Longhorns meet at Mercedes Dome for our first time since we saw LSU defeat Oklahoma in the 2019 Semifinal game. Saw some nice changes made at the dome since. Note the large round video board above the playing surface.
We at collegefootballfan.com believe some sort of investigation should be called for by the NCAA. Results like this challenge the credibility of the NCAA as a whole. They need to provide aa creditable explanation at yesterday’s win by the Texas Long Horns (13-2).
Strange start
Coming from collegefootballfan.com, we prioritize game excitement more than anything else from college football. This game started off mundane to say the least. The Longhorns, like other winners of opening round games, dominated the Sun Devils (11-3) early. After a bye week, ASU trailed, 17-3, at the half. Through it, the Sun Devils led statistically, but the Horns put more points up on the board early.
Following a 39-yard field goal by ASU’s Caston Kieffer, Texas scored on a 23-yard TD pass from Quin Ewers to De’Andre Moore, Jr. to finish a 77-yard drive. Silas Bolden’s exciting 75-yard punt return added seven more in the first. In the second period, the only score came on Bert Auburn’s 22-yard FG.
Sun Devils control clock in third
The third period maintained an aura of the mundane, but with a little excitement on ASU’s behalf. Following a Texas punt, Arizona State controlled the ball for a 60-yard, 11 play drive. However, with a first and goal at the Texas six, the Longhorns held Skattebo and QB Sam Leavitt to four rushing yards on four plays. They took over on downs on their two. Looking for breathing room, Ewers handed off to RB Quintrevion Wisner up the middle. The defensive line popped the ball straight back into the hands of Ewers. There, DB Shamari Simmons tackled him for a safety. The Sun Devils had higher hopes, now trailing 17-5.
ASU started with the ensuing punt from their 31. Eleven plays and 50 yards later, with 0:41 left in the third, Kieffer booted a 36-yard FG to trail Texas, 17-8, setting up for an exciting fourth period.
Sun Devils Provide Fireworks in the Fourth!
Moving into the last quarter, Texas drove from their 24 to the ASU five. On third and goal, Ewers rolled right. He looked for an open receiver, but suddenly noted he had some room to run. He worked his way into the end zone for a TD, extending the Longhorn lead, 24-8, with 10:17 remaining to play. The Sun Devils started their next drive from the 25 and moved out to the UT 42.
To this point, the stalwart RB Cam Skattebo was on his way to 143 yards on 30 carries. However, he got to display his passing talent here when Leavitt lateraled across to him near the right sideline. From there, he fired a pass down field to hit WR Malik McClain in stride for a touchdown pass to trail briefly, 24-14, with 6:31 left. To draw within one score, Leavitt fired a two-point conversion pass to Xavier Guillory to now trail by only eight.
Sun Devils’ timely turnover
On the ensuing Texas possession, Ewers lofted a long pass down the middle of the field. ASU S Javan Robinson came in from the left leaping high to intercept the ball for his team to take the ball back on their 21. On the very next play, Skattebo demonstrated his receiving skills taking on a short pass and motoring 62 yards. Taken down with a face mask penalty, the Sun Devils knocked at the Longhorn eight. Skattebo took it over from the two.
Now down 24-22, they had to go for two once again as 5:00 remained. On a roundabout scramble by Leavitt, Texas seemed to thwart the attempt, but they got called for defensive holding. Half the distance to the goal line put the ball back in Skattebo’s hands and the game was tied, 24-24. This initially mundane game came down to a fantastic finish!
Who will investigate this really critical issue?
With 1:39 left, Texas drove to the ASU 30. On fourth down, senior PK Bret Auburn came in to attempt a 48-yard FG. With six of 11 good on the season from over 40, his kick went wide right. The Sun Devils took over from the 30. Here’s where somebody has to demand an investigation about a seriously flawed no-call. It had a direct impact on not only the outcome of this game, but on the entire CFP result. Millions saw it on TV. Aside from Longhorn fans, I don’t think anybody else agreed with the no call.
On third and 15 at the ASU 38, Leavitt connected with Melquan Stovall on a crossing pattern on the middle. He got hit so hard despite holding on to the football, he was laid out for medical attention on the turf. It happened so quickly in person and from a distance, it was difficult to see the actual hit. When the replay finally showed on the big overhead video board in the Mecedes Dome, most fans questioned why a flag wasn’t thrown. ASU HC Kenny Dillingham was livid and rightly so. “Boo’s” from fans of the Sun Devils echoed throughout the Mercedes Dome.
Question: How is “targeting” defined by college football?
The defender impacted with the helmet to helmet on the initial contact. No doubt this was “targeting” most fans spoken to have acknowledged. Take it from someone who has disagreed with targeting calls in the past, this one called for a flag and definitely a penalty. It resulted in neither. The Referee of the Big Ten crew even went back to review after Stovall was removed from the field after an on-field exam. I’d seen more of what I thought were unintentional or unavoidable helmet to helmet contacts called against an offender in previous games. This was no different.
After review, I can’t figure how any “team of officials” reviewing this play came up with a “no targeting” decision. Something was definitely wrong there. After that call, you have to ask, why even have the rule? I asked friend who had seen it on TV. I asked if it had to do with not leading with the crown, but they said that was never mentioned in the broadcast dialogue.
Answer: It’s as unclear as what goes through victims’ heads.
I thought this rule was for players’ protection. The UT defender made no effort to meet him with his shoulder. Again, sometimes that’s unavoidable, but the targeting call has always applied in the past. However, this game is tied and being played for a national championship. So what? So, evidently, we throw the rule out to protect the innocent? The officials in this case? Horrible! Show this play again the next time targeting is called. It’s not clear what the definition is now. This should be investigated. Why was targeting not enforced on this play? Reviews of such plays need to be made and enforced with clearly defined criteria probably by someone not on the playing field.
Down to the wire
Because of that non-call, ASU did not get the first down that would’ve been assessed and tacked on for a first down. Instead, they punted. With 0:52 left to play, the Longhorns drove from their 20 to the ASU 19. Texas Head Coach Steve Sarkisian draped his arms over Auburn’s shoulder pads to evidently bolster his kicker’s confidence with 0:02 left on the game clock. This time, the kick went wide right! Coach speak did not work. The Sun Devils celebrated. They still had a chance to advance. Time expired at 28-28.
Oh, those Overtimes
ASU took possession first. Two key runs by Leavitt kept the Sun Devils’ hopes alive for a TD. On fourth and one at the 16, he got to the 15 for a first down. Next, on third and four at the nineteen, he ran it down to the Texas three. Of course, he handed off to Skattebo for the finishing touch to lead by seven. The Longhorns’ first possession got pushed back for a fourth and 13 at the 28. Ewers took a shot and made it work with a 28-yard score to WR Matthew Golden to tie it back up. Just like that – 31-31.
Texas went first in the second OT. They wasted no time. On the first play, Ewer connected with TE Gunnar Helm for an immediate scoring strike. Sarkisian decided this was for the win. Ewers threw a two-point conversion pass to Matthew Golden to lead 39-31 and to challenge the Sun Devils to at least do the same. On a pass to the near pylon to his left, Leavitt was intercepted by CB Andrew Mukuba to seal the Texas win and move on to the Cotton Bowl to take on a hot Ohio State team. Great for the Longhorns, but one particular no-call significantly changed the outcome of this game in a critical situation. This shouldn’t happen to any team in the CFP.
And short, one game celebrations!
One more to go to for this season
Like the Longhorns heading to the AT&T Cotton Bowl for the Semi-finals to play Ohio State, we’re heading to the Capital One Orange Bowl to see Notre Dame face Penn State. Already this season, we’ve attended games played by all four finalists this year. We’ll offer our insight as to who will win these games and beyond. Come check us out again before we attend our 712th college football game!
-Edited by Steve Koreivo – Member of Football Writers Association of America and Author of Fifty Years of Tailgate Tales: The good, the Fun and the Ugly. Click on the title to buy your copy on Amazon today, and please submit a review. Read about exciting, fun memorable game experiences from teenager to retired business manager. It’s a fun story relating to one of today’s major work-related issues – work/life balance. I’d say this experience can teach people that it can be done!