The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
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Arizona State
The Pick: Mukuba’s interception sends No. 4/4/3 Football to the CFP Semifinals
01.01.2025 | Football
The Longhorns defeat No. 12 Arizona State, 39-31, in double overtime to advance to the CFP semis for the second straight year.
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ATLANTA, Ga. – The ending of No. 4/4/3 Texas' 39-31 double overtime win over No. 12 Arizona State in the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Chick-Fil-A Peach Bowl on Wednesday afternoon will live in the program's history for the rest of time.
Following back-to-back touchdown passes from redshirt junior quarterback Quinn Ewers — one on a 4th-and-13 play from the Arizona State 28-yard line to extend the game and then another on the first play from scrimmage to begin the second overtime session — the Texas (13-2) defense needed one more stop to seal the outcome.
Arizona State (11-3) quarterback Sam Leavitt completed a 13-yard pass to running back Cam Skattebo and moved the chains to the Longhorns' 12-yard line. After an incomplete pass and a Skattebo 2-yard rush on second down, the Sun Devils were facing a 3rd-and-8 from the 10-yard line.
With three receivers to the left of the formation and a tight end at the end of offensive line, Leavitt took the snap, faked to Skattebo and let loose a throw towards the first-down marker.
Andrew Mukuba, a first-year Longhorn and Austin native, was seven yards off his receiver at the snap, but read the out-and-up route by Melquan Stovall and undercut the throw before Stovall had an opportunity to make a play. It was Mukuba's fifth interception on the season — tying him with Jahdae Barron, the game's most valuable defensive player, for the team lead — and the Longhorns' ninth consecutive game — and 13th in 15 games this season — with at least one interception.
ANDREW. MUKUBA. EVERYONE.#HookEm | #CFBPlayoff pic.twitter.com/XdPdLsm5dB
— Texas Football (@TexasFootball) January 1, 2025
"That whole drive started with Jahdae Barron," Mukuba said. "I told him that our energy was low on the defensive side of the ball, so he talked to (our defense) and brought our spirit and energy up. It was all discipline. (Stovall) ran his route. I was in good position and looked back for the ball. I knew I wasn't dropping it.
"It's all about making a play when your name is called. I had hope and belief that we were going to come out on top regardless of the situation. It's what we've been training to do: keep fighting until the clock hits zero. Even on the 4th-and-13 play, I knew the offense would go out there and give the defense another chance to win the game."
Two of Texas' five touchdowns came during the pair of overtime periods. Ewers tossed a 28-yard touchdown to Matthew Golden, who finished the contest with a game-high 149 receiving yards on seven receptions, and a 25-yard score to Gunnar Helm to push the Longhorns ahead in double overtime. The Texas signal caller also had a 23-yard touchdown throw to DeAndre Moore, Jr., that proceeded a 75-yard punt return touchdown by Silas Bolden in the first quarter.
Bert Auburn connected on a 22-yard field goal attempt with 8:54 remaining in the second quarter that gave Texas a 17-3 halftime lead.
After Arizona State cut its deficit to nine at 17-8 with 41 seconds remaining in the third quarter, Ewers extended the lead back to 24-8 with a 5-yard touchdown run less than five minutes into the fourth quarter.
Two touchdowns and a pair of two-point conversions by the Sun Devils within a 91-second span (6:31 – 5:00) during the fourth quarter tied the game at 24, where the score stood until the first overtime session began.
UP NEXT
Texas (13-2) will now return to the Lone Star State to play in a College Football Playoff Semifinal at The Cotton Bowl in Dallas, Texas at 6:30 p.m. Central on Friday, Jan. 10. The Longhorns will play the winner of the College Football Playoff Quarterfinal at the Rose Bowl between Oregon and Ohio State.
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