Litman Lake
Football and school soccer analyst
Arizona State gamers are relishing being the underdog this week. But that is nothing new. The Sun Devils have accomplished this all 12 months.
For starters, Kenny Dillingham’s group was picked to complete final in its debut season within the Big 12 — that is what occurs once you go 3-9 the 12 months earlier than. But below Dillingham, the 34-year-old Sun Devils head coach who took over earlier than the 2023 season, ASU went 11-2, received the convention and earned a first-round bye within the College Football Playoff.
Now they’re making ready to face Texas in Wednesday’s Peach Bowl, which serves because the quarterfinals of the College Football Playoff. The Longhorns are listed as 13.5 favorites — the widest unfold amongst all CFP quarterfinal video games. But the Sun Devils do not care as a result of they know what it is prefer to be missed.
“Just extra gasoline on the fireplace,” ASU quarterback Sam Leavitt advised reporters this week. “I form of perceive it (through the) preseason and stuff like that, however as we progressed all year long and continued to show folks flawed and now folks see the product that we’ve, I’m a little bit confused by the rating predictions.
“But I’m tremendous enthusiastic about it. The alternative is all you may ask for. Now I’ve the chance to go play on the most important stage and do what we do.”
Many of the questions requested of Arizona State gamers within the lead-up to this recreation had been about dealing with Texas’ top-ranked protection and dealing with a high-profile quarterback like Quinn Ewers. The Sun Devils, making their first-ever CFP look, responded to every with confidence and poise.
Leavitt, for instance, mentioned he cannot wait to show “why I’m the higher quarterback,” phrases that rapidly went viral. The younger quarterback, who transferred from Michigan State after his freshman 12 months, had a stable first 12 months in Tempe, passing for two,663 yards with 24 touchdowns and simply 5 interceptions. He made progress all through the season, and in his closing two video games (victories over Arizona after which Iowa State within the Big 12 Championship Game) he accomplished greater than 70 p.c of his passes for a complete of 510 yards and 6 touchdowns.
“I’ve all the time been underrated my entire profession,” Leavitt mentioned. “Back in highschool, I wasn’t even a high recruit, three stars, beginning out, I had about two provides my senior 12 months. Then (I) performed rather well, grew to become a 4 star. SEC groups they did not Don’t actually attain out and stuff like that.
“Then after I entered the switch portal and got here right here, I did not have a reputation on my again and I needed to work for all the things. Even coming into this recreation, I really feel like I’m nonetheless disrespected and we’re like a group normally. That’s a standard objective for our entire group and all the things.”
Of course, Leavitt did not care a lot in regards to the feedback he made about Ewers, who was a former No. 1 recruit within the nation popping out of highschool. Although he seen the chatter that adopted.
“I see it blowing up a little bit bit,” Leavitt mentioned, “which is sweet…getting my title out on stage a little bit extra.
“I do not assume publicity is dangerous, particularly in case you do not say something. Quinn Ewers is such an enormous title in school soccer and now he will be talked about so much on the present, and now you are going to get into the sport and persons are going to be watching issues, so it is simply a possibility for me to show myself.”
Leavitt mentioned the response to his feedback wouldn’t add additional strain forward of Wednesday’s conflict.
“It does not change something for me,” Leavitt mentioned. “I’m simply going to win the sport. I do not care what folks assume.”
Ewers, in fact, was requested about Leavitt’s remarks throughout Peach Bowl Media Day.
“Congratulations to them on an important 12 months, an important season,” Ewers mentioned. “I acquired to observe a few of their video games and (Leavitt is) a gifted participant and so they’re a enjoyable offense to observe. I’m simply excited to face him.”
Meanwhile, Arizona State operating again Cam Skattebo was speaking about his recreation. The deadly downhill runner, who completed fifth within the 2024 Heisman Trophy voting, mentioned he does not get sufficient respect with regards to one of the best operating backs in school soccer.
After the Sun Devils’ 45-19 loss to Iowa State within the Big 12 Championship Game, the place Skattebo rushed for 170 yards and a pair of touchdowns, Skattebo mentioned the next: “Nobody respects the truth that I’m one of the best operating again within the nation. I’ll proceed to take action. If folks need to be disrespectful, I’ll transfer ahead and proceed to show folks flawed.”
During Monday’s media session, Skattebo reiterated his assertion: “There’s nobody on the market who can cease me,” the senior operating again mentioned.
While Skattebo’s claims have confirmed true up to now — he has run for 494 yards and eight touchdowns in his final three video games — he hasn’t confronted a protection pretty much as good as Texas’ all 12 months. The Longhorns have restricted opponents to 104.2 speeding yards per recreation, 3.1 yards per carry and simply 11 speeding touchdowns this season.
Pete Kwiatkowski’s protection prides itself on stopping the run and blocking opposing group operating backs, one thing it addressed instantly after beating Clemson within the opening spherical of the CFP, establishing this matchup towards Skattebo and the Sun Devils.
“Since I’ve been right here, I really feel like I’ve heard it so much, {that a} group goes to come back right here and throw us the ball,” Texans defensive finish Barryn Sorrell mentioned. “And quite a lot of occasions there’s been a distinct consequence. So I’m wanting ahead to that problem once more. Everybody on offense will likely be wanting ahead to that problem. That’s what we do as a protection: We insist on stopping the race.”
When requested in regards to the problem of stopping Skattebo, Texans defenseman Michael Taaffe mentioned the next: “He’s a hard-nosed, trying-to-run-over kind of again. He additionally has nice persistence, nice contact steadiness, nice contact braveness to the purpose the place he rests his shoulder and perhaps somebody is attempting to seize his legs and he stumbles, stands and runs one other 40 meters.
“The means he may be so versatile as a operating again — he jumps, he runs over folks, he turns — he is acquired the entire bundle. And then (he is a) passing menace, he is only a man who can do all of it, and clearly he they name his title and he is able to play each single Saturday.”
The proven fact that Texas has turned to movie solely additional motivates Skattebo.
“If they’re finding out onerous, there is a cause,” Skattebo mentioned. “And I’ve full respect for them as a result of they perceive what they’re enjoying towards, and that is why I really like enjoying in video games like this, as a result of they consistently see me as a menace, and that is one thing I’ve all the time wished to be.”
There is not any denying the affect Skattebo made throughout his senior season. He ran for 1,568 complete yards with 19 touchdowns, including 506 receiving yards with three extra scores. While it is true that this 12 months hasn’t but seen a protection of the caliber of the Longhorns, it is equally honest to say that Texas hasn’t confronted the form of problem it presents both.
“Like I mentioned, I really feel like I’m one of the best,” Skattebo mentioned. “It does not matter who they performed towards, I nonetheless assume I’m one of the best.
“I’m excited to play these guys as a result of I’m going to introduce them to one thing new that they’ve by no means seen earlier than. I’m excited and hopefully they’re able to play some soccer.”
Laken Litman covers school soccer, school basketball and soccer for FOX Sports. He beforehand wrote for Sports Illustrated, USA Today and The Indianapolis Star. She is the writer of “Strong Like a Woman,” revealed in spring 2022 to mark the fiftieth anniversary of Title IX. Follow her to @LakenLitman.
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