The highly anticipated second-round College Football Playoff (CFP) matchup between the No. 5 Texas Longhorns and the No. 4 Arizona State Sun Devils is set for Wednesday, January 1st, at 1 p.m. ET/10 a.m. PT. The game will be played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, and broadcast on ESPN.
Texas, boasting a 12-2 record, enters the game fresh off a 38-24 victory over Clemson in the first round. Their season, however, was marked by two losses to Georgia, including a heartbreaking 22-19 defeat in the SEC Championship game that dashed their hopes for a higher CFP seed. Arizona State, with an 11-2 record, secured their spot as the No. 4 seed after a dominant 45-19 win over Iowa State in the Big 12 Championship, earning them a first-round bye in the expanded 12-team playoff format. Their impressive six-game winning streak leading up to the CFP highlights their late-season surge.
Despite their strong finish, the Sun Devils face significant challenges heading into the Peach Bowl. Star wide receiver Jordyn Tyson is out for the season following surgery, and key defensive back Shamari Simmons will miss the first half due to a targeting penalty incurred in the Big 12 Championship game. Furthermore, Arizona State’s underdog status, prevalent throughout the season, continues into this matchup, even with their impressive late-season run. Their star running back, Cam Skattebo, narrowly missed out on a Heisman Trophy finalist spot, finishing fifth in voting. The betting odds currently favor Texas.
Joe Tessitore is slated for play-by-play commentary, with Jesse Palmer joining him in the broadcast booth. For those without cable or satellite TV, several streaming services offer ESPN, allowing viewers to watch the game. Options include YouTube TV, Sling TV, and FuboTV, each offering varying channel lineups and pricing plans. YouTube TV’s base plan starts at $49.99 per month for new subscribers (regularly $72.99), while Sling TV’s Orange Plan offers a more budget-friendly option starting at $20 for the first month. FuboTV provides a broader channel selection with a seven-day free trial. All three offer ESPN as part of their channel packages.