Austin, TX
Texas vs. Arizona State: Longhorns defeat Sun Devils 39-31 in 2OT
Texas vs ASU: Sun Devils expert gives some insight
FOX Phoenix’s Richard Saenz stepped into The Sports Office to give some insight into the College Football Playoff quarterfinals. Saenz talks with FOX 7 producer Julian Martinez about everything Longhorn fans need to know about the Arizona State Sun Devils.
AUSTIN – The Texas Longhorns defeated the Arizona State Sun Devils in a nail-biter on Wednesday afternoon to move to the semifinals of the College Football Playoff.
Arizona State came from behind to tie the game in overtime and had Texas against the ropes in the first overtime.
A 4th-and-13 touchdown from Quinn Ewers to Matthew Golden gave the Longhorns new life and a quick strike in the second overtime led to a Texas victory.
The winner of Texas-Arizona State advances to play the winner of the game between No. 1 Oregon and No. 8 Ohio State.
That game will be played on January 10 in Arlington, Texas at AT&T Stadium.
Live Updates
2nd Overtime
Texas scored on the first play of the 2nd overtime on a Quinn Ewers pass to tight end Gunnar Helm. Texas then converted a two-point conversion to put huge pressure on the Sun Devils.
The Texas defense stood strong in the second overtime, picking off Leavitt to end the game.
Overtime
In the first possession of overtime, a long scramble from quarterback Sam Leavitt set up a short touchdown run for Cam Skattebo to power his way into the endzone.
The Longhorn offense sputtered in OT at first, but Quinn Ewers threw a 28-yard touchdown to Matthew Golden to extend the game.
Fourth Quarter
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – JANUARY 01: Bert Auburn #45 of the Texas Longhorns misses a field goal during the fourth quarter against the Arizona State Sun Devils in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 01, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (
The Texas offense found the endzone for the first time since the opening quarter on a Quinn Ewers scramble. The Longhorns lead 24-8.
Arizona State’s offense struck with a bit of trickery. Running back Cam Skattebo threw a 42-yard touchdown and added a two-point conversion to cut the lead to 8.
A deep shot from Ewers was picked off with 5:37 left in fourth giving the Sun Devils life.
Skattebo hauled in a long catch and then pounded in a short touchdown and two-point conversion to tie the game at 24.
Kicker Bert Auburn missed a 48-yard attempt with 1:39 left in the fourth, but Texas got the ball back.
A 28-yard pass from Ewers to Ryan Wingo put the Longhorns into field goal range.
Auburn hit the left upright on a potential game-winning kick from 38 yards out as time expired in regulation.
Third Quarter
The Sun Devils offense moved the ball well to start the second half, but another 4th down stop near the goal line kept Arizona State off the board.
One the next play, Texas running back Quintrevion Wisner fumbled in the end zone, leading to a safety.
The Sun Devils drive the ball down the field for a field goal to cut the lead to 17-8 late in the third.
Second Quarter
The second quarter started with a big fourth down stand for the Texas defense. Bruising running back Cam Skattebo was stuffed deep in Texas territory to give the Longhorns the ball back.
Texas marched down the field and kicked a short field goal to take a 17-3 lead.
Arizona State’s fake punt extended a drive at the end of the half that ended in a blocked field goal.
First Quarter
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – JANUARY 01: Silas Bolden #11 of the Texas Longhorns returns a punt for a touchdown during the first quarter against the Arizona State Sun Devils in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 01, 2025 in Atlanta,
Arizona State was on the board first after an early field goal, but Quinn Ewers and the Longhorns offense struck back quickly.
Ewers threw a 23-yeard touchdown pass to DeAndre Moore Jr. to cap off a two-play, 77-yard drive and put the Longhorns up 7-3.
After a stop on defense, Texas return man Silas Bolden took a punt 75 yards for a touchdown.
Overall, the Longhorns defense looked very stout and the offense looked explosive in the first.
Pregame
Some bad news for the Longhorns ahead of kickoff.
Texas RT Cameron Williams is unlikely to play today due to a knee sprain, according to sources.
Redshirt freshman Trevor Goosby is expected to start in his place.
Texas vs Arizona State: How to watch, stream
ATLANTA, GEORGIA – JANUARY 01: Quinn Ewers #3 of the Texas Longhorns walks onto the field with teammates prior to the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on January 01, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo
- No. 5 Texas vs No. 4 Arizona State
- Where: Mercedes-Benz Stadium – Atlanta, Georgia
- Date: Wednesday, January 1
- Time: 12 PM (CT)
- TV: ESPN
Key Matchup
Arizona State RB Cam Skattebo vs. Texas’ defensive front. Skattebo put together a dynamic season, finishing fifth in the Heisman Trophy balloting while becoming one of the rare players in FBS history to total 2,000 yards from scrimmage. He has rushed for 1,568 yards, averaging 6.0 yards per carry while scoring 19 touchdowns on the ground. But the Longhorns figure to present a much tougher challenge than Skattebo faced in the Big 12. Texas ranks 11th nationally in rushing defense, allowing just 104.5 yards per game.
Players to Watch
Texas: CB Jahdae Barron. The Jim Thorpe Award winner as the nation’s top defensive back, the senior leads the Longhorns with five interceptions and 11 passes broken up. If Barron and the rest of Texas’ stellar secondary can shut down Arizona State’s passing game, the Sun Devils would be hard-pressed to move the ball effectively even with Skattebo leading the way.
Arizona State: QB Sam Leavitt boasted that he’s the better quarterback in his matchup with Texas counterpart Quinn Ewers. Now, Leavitt has to back up his bravado. After transferring from Michigan State, the redshirt freshman played a key role in the Sun Devils’ remarkable turnaround this season. He has completed 63.2% of his passes for 2,663 yards, with 24 touchdowns and just five interceptions. Leavitt is also a threat to run the ball, totaling 383 yards and five TDs.
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas’ highway system dropped two spots since 2025, and now ranks at No. 27 in the country for its cost-effectiveness and overall conditions, according to the Reason Foundation’s 2026 Highway Report.
The report assessed pavement conditions, fatalities, deficient bridges, infrastructure costs and congestion levels across the United States. Texas earned the following rankings:
- 33rd in urban interstate pavement conditions
- 21st in rural interstate pavement conditions
- 39th in urban arterial pavement conditions
- 12th in rural arterial pavement conditions
- 3rd in structurally deficient bridges
- 26th in urban fatality rate
- 42nd in rural fatality rate
- 41st in traffic congestion
“More than 42,000 of the nation’s 618,923 highway bridges, nearly 7%, are still structurally deficient. Arizona, Nevada, and Texas reported the lowest percentages of deficient bridges,” the report said.
The full report can be found online.
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Small hail peppered the Austin area as strong thunderstorms moved through Saturday.
A few of the storms dropped rain and up to pea-sized hail in San Marcos, Dripping Springs and the Austin metro area.
A Severe Thunderstorm Warning was issued for Williamson County around 8:15 p.m., and then canceled shortly after. However, it was enough for the Two Step Inn music festival in Georgetown to cancel shows for the rest of the evening. Event organizers say the festival will run as planned Sunday.
KXAN’s First Warning Weather team is monitoring the storms. We will update this post as the evening continues.
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Society Sons of the American Revolution unveiled a new monument at the Texas State Cemetery on Saturday, dedicated to Texas Revolutionary War soldiers.
“We must educate every generation about why it is that America grew from a tenuous 13 colonies into the most powerful country in the history of the world,” said Governor Abbott. “This monument here is an enduring testament to the heroes who fought for the freedom that is unique to America.”
The monument was dedicated to 69 soldiers who fought in the American Revolutionary War and later settled in Texas, according to a press release.
Among those that were honored, Abbott recognized:
- José Santiago Seguín, grandfather of Texas Revolutionary hero Juan Seguín.
- Peter Sides, who fought in the 2nd Battalion of the North Carolina Regiment of the Colonial Army, and was later killed in the 1813 Battle of Medina, fighting for Mexican independence against Spain.
- Antonio Gil Y’Barbo, the founder of Nacogdoches.
- William Sparks, who fought as a mounted rifleman in the American Revolution and later settled in Texas. He had two sons and two grandsons who fought in the Texas Revolution.
“This year marks the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, which not only gave freedom to the British colonies of North America, but inspired movements for freedom and liberty all over the world,” said TSSAR President Mel Oller. “Texans played a role in the war too, and it’s important to recognize them, and the sacrifices they made for our freedom.”
At the monument unveiling, Abbott was also inducted into the Sons of the American Revolution and received its Silver Good Citizenship Medal.
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