After an exciting opening round, the College Football Playoff has narrowed the field to eight teams. The quarterfinal matchups are set, featuring No. 7 Notre Dame vs. No. 2 Georgia, No. 6 Penn State vs. No. 3 Boise State, No. 5 Texas vs. No. 4 Arizona State, and No. 8 Ohio State vs. No. 1 Oregon.
Among these games, the clash between Texas and Arizona State has drawn significant attention. ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI) predicts a dominant showing for the Texas Longhorns, giving them a commanding 79.7% chance to advance, compared to Arizona State’s 20.3%.
Texas enters the matchup with an impressive 11-2 record, despite suffering both losses to Georgia. The Longhorns boast the No. 2 defense in the nation, allowing just 13.3 points per game, and have generated the third-most total yards in FBS with 6,284. Their balanced roster makes them one of the most complete teams in college football.
Arizona State, also 11-2, had a less consistent path to the playoffs, with losses to Texas Tech (8-4) and Cincinnati (5-7). The Sun Devils lean heavily on standout running back Cam Skattebo to power their offense. However, if Texas can neutralize
