Don’t call it midnight.
This isn’t a Cinderella story that’s ending for the ASU football team. In reality, the incredible ride is just beginning, even if Wednesday’s heartbreaking double-overtime loss in the Peach Bowl still stings.
The Sun Devils’ stunning 16-point fourth quarter rally wasn’t enough to propel the team to a win in its first-ever College Football Playoff appearance, but it sure did prove any doubters wrong (and there were a lot of them) by showcasing why ASU belongs on the grandest stage with the sport’s most storied programs.
The loss was painful, but it is also the next step in Arizona State’s long-sought goal of competing at the highest level on a consistent basis. Culture isn’t built in two seasons, but an 11-win year, including a conference title and an appearance in the College Football Playoff, is one heck of a place to start.
Defense Stepped Up Against Top-Tier Talent
The Sun Devils took a (very) brief 3-0 lead in the Peach Bowl following a 12-play, 63-yard opening drive, which felt stunningly insignificant after Quinn Ewers and Texas took just two plays to respond and capture a 7-3 advantage.
It sure looked like it was going to be a long day for the ASU defense following that drive, but to the contrary, the Sun Devils responded. The D kept them within striking distance when the game could have gotten out of hand early, and though the halftime scoreboard showed a 17-3 deficit, it also showed a Longhorns offense that had been held to 133 total yards.
Midway through the third quarter — after Cam Skattebo was stuffed on 4th-and-goal from the two yard line — the defense immediately came through again, forcing a safety to pull the Sun Devils to within 17-5, and providing a much-needed spark at a critical time.
Few talked about the ASU defense heading into the Peach Bowl. Rather, much of the attention was focused on Skattebo and quarterback Sam Leavitt’s proverbial bulletin board material (more on that later). Early on, though, it was the ASU defense that stole the show, consistently stifling a gifted Longhorns offense.
Who would have thought an unheralded defense would impact the Peach Bowl in such a way?
For Arizona State, that’s perfectly on brand.
Offense Came Alive When It mattered Most
Skattebo backed up his declaration earlier in the week that he is unstoppable.
The senior running back rushed 30 times for 143 yards and two touchdowns in the Peach Bowl while becoming the all-time single season leading rusher at Arizona State, but that’s just scratching the surface.
What else? 99 receiving yards on eight receptions, a successful two point conversion, and — oh yeah — a 42-yard passing touchdown. It should come as no surprise that he was named the game’s offensive MVP, the first time a player from the losing team has earned that honor in 26 years.
All in a day’s work, and most of that came after he could have packed it in following an extremely frustrating start. Skattebo was stuffed on fourth-and-two from the Texas 25, and yet again on fourth-and-goal from the Texas two yard line.
Thanks to the defense, though, Skattebo, Leavitt, and the Sun Devils’ offense eventually clicked to rally from a 16-point fourth quarter deficit and almost stun the entire college football world.
He showed why he deserved to be a finalist for this year’s Heisman Trophy (he finished fifth in voting), seemingly putting the Sun Devils on his shoulders and willing the Peach Bowl to overtime. The absence of star receiver Jordyn Tyson amplified this, because even though Texas knew what was coming, it still struggled to stop it.
Peach Bowl Loss Will Help Further Develop Culture
Leavitt and his young teammates are experiencing the most difficult part about winning: Losing.
It’s a brutal part of the blue blood culture that Dillingham craves, but it’s also a reality that every championship culture must endure en route to the promised land. A few recent examples: Texas fell to Washington in last year’s Sugar Bowl, a valuable learning experience that no-doubt helped Ewers throw a touchdown strike faced with 4th-and-13 in the game’s first overtime on Wednesday.
Last year’s National Champion, Michigan, dropped playoff games in consecutive years before finally going the distance.
The list goes on, but the experience in Wednesday’s thriller will not only help motivate, it will also help educate and foster a culture of winning and accountability.
Building A Team That Wants To Be Present
The most important — and impressive — aspect of what Dillingham has brought to Tempe is his desire to be there. He advocates for his student athletes, but he also holds them accountable, and there’s likely no one in the building who wants to be part of the program more than the hometown hero.
If there was any doubt, look no further than the reported five-year contract that was announced on Tuesday, which is far more than just a raise for one of the best coaches in the county. It’s as much a commitment from Arizona State to Dillingham as it is from Dillingham to the program.
The second-year head coach wasn’t just looking for a payday. He reportedly sought out assurances that the school will continue to invest in its football program: Facilities, staff and student athletes.
Who wouldn’t want to play for a coach like that?
When the dust settles, the pain from the loss will dull, but the memory of what the 2024 ASU football team achieved will not. This is not a Cinderella story. There’s no pumpkin stagecoach, or grand ball, or glass slipper.
Just a team following the example set by its coach, and a town activated like never before.
