MOVING ON! Texas advances to the College Football Playoff semifinal after defeating Arizona State

Texas is back in the semifinals of the College Football Playoff. After defeating Arizona State 39-31 in the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl, the Longhorns are in the round of four in the College Football Playoff for the second consecutive year.

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Andrew Mukuba made the game-winning interception in overtime to seal the victory.

Texas awaits the winner of Oregon and Ohio State in the Sugar Bowl. That game has been postponed to January 2 in the wake of the terrorist attack in New Orleans.

The Longhorns struck early, scoring a touchdown when Quinn Ewers completed a pass to DeAndre Moore for a 23-yard score. The two-play scoring drive started with a long pitch and catch from Ewers to Matthew Golden on a RPO that put the Longhorns in position.

Then, Silas Bolden returned a punt 75 yards to make it 14-3 midway through the second quarter. Bert Auburn converted a field goal midway through the second quarter to put the Longhorns up 17-3.

Arizona State possessed the football for most of the first half and moved the ball on the Texas defense. But aside from a field goal on the first drive, the Sun Devils could not find the end zone. ASU turned the ball over on downs twice inside the Texas 40. When they tried to take points at the end of the half, Ethan Burke blocked the field goal attempt to keep the Sun Devils out of the end zone.

Texas’ defense corralled the Arizona State offense in the first half, mainly star running back Cam Skattebo. The top-five Heisman Trophy vote getter amassed 45 yards on 13 carries and the Sun Devils failed to find the end zone.

Skattebo battled back in the second half throwing a touchdown pass and rushing for another score to tie the game at 24 with five minutes left.

During that time, Texas continually shot itself in the foot with penalties, mistakes, and more. A fourth-down stand at the goal-line was quickly undone by a safety that put two points on the board for the Sun Devils.

The game went to overtime after Texas failed to convert a field goal that would have won the game. The teams traded scores in overtime one, and then Mukuba made his game saving play.

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Texas is the only team from last year’s four-team College Football Playoff to make it back to this stage. The Longhorns will battle either Oregon or Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl on January 10 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

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