Texas returns to Atlanta to face Arizona State in CFP quarterfinal

PEACH BOWL>> TEXAS VS. ARIZONA STATE, 11 A.M. WED., ESPN

Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers works in the pocket against Georgia on Dec. 7 in Atlanta. JOHN BAZEMORE — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

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By Paul Newberry

The Associated Press

ATLANTA >> The Texas Longhorns were in Atlanta less than a month ago, playing for a championship.

That one didn’t go as planned.

Now, the Longhorns get an A-T-L do-over when they face Arizona State at the Peach Bowl in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal game on New Year’s Day.

Fifth-seeded Texas (12-2) insists it has gotten over the disappointment of losing an overtime thriller to Georgia on Dec. 7, a result that denied the Longhorns a title in their debut season as a member of the SEC.

“Of course we’re going to kind of feel that a little bit, but we kind of want to move on and just get ready for Arizona State,” Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. said. “They’re a good football team and we kind of don’t want to think about that (Georgia) game all over again.”

The Longhorns showed no signs of a hangover when they held off Clemson in the opening round of the expanded 12-team playoff.

If they can knock off Arizona State — Texas is a two-touchdown favorite — it will be back to their home state for a semifinal game against either Oregon or Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl.

Fourth-seeded Arizona State (11-2) has been one of the nation’s most surprising teams. The Sun Devils went 3-9 a year ago in Kenny Dillingham’s first season as head coach. Making the move from the disintegrating Pac-12 to the 16-team Big 12, Arizona State was picked to finish dead last this season. Instead, it was tied with three other teams for the top spot during the regular season and claimed the title all to itself in the Big 12 championship game, rolling past Iowa State. This is a chance for Arizona State to prove to everyone that its stunning season was no fluke.

“We’re going to face one of the best teams in the country, if not the best team in the country,” Dillingham said Tuesday on the eve of the game.

Ewers vs. Leavitt

Quinn Ewers has a stellar resume as the Texas quarterback. Sam Leavitt is out to prove he’s the better man. The Arizona State QB has been a major reason for his team’s unexpected success. He’s eager for a head-to-head showdown with Ewers, who has passed for 2,867 yards and 26 touchdowns this season.

Leavitt has put up similar numbers, with 2,663 yards and 24 TDs.

Skattebo’s big stage

Cam Skattebo is Arizona State’s biggest star, a bowling ball of a running back who has become one of the rare players in FBS history to put up more than 2,000 yards from scrimmage.

“I feel like I’m the best,” Skattebo said. “I’m excited to play those guys because I’m going to present to them something new that they haven’t seen before. I’m excited, and hopefully they’re ready to play some football.”