Sam Leavitt, Cam Skattebo lit the fire; now it’s up to Texas to answer

Arizona State players are relishing the role of underdog this week. But this is nothing new. The Sun Devils have done it all year.

For starters, Kenny Dillingham’s team was picked to finish last in its debut season in the Big 12 — that’s what happens when you go 3-9 the year before. But under Dillingham, the Sun Devils’ 34-year-old head coach who took over ahead of the 2023 season, ASU went 11-2, won the conference and earned a first-round bye in the College Football Playoff.

Now they prepare to take on Texas in Wednesday’s Peach Bowl, which serves as a College Football Playoff quarterfinal. The Longhorns are listed as a 13.5 favorite — the largest spread of any CFP quarterfinal matchup. But the Sun Devils don’t mind because they know what it’s like to be overlooked.

“Just more fuel to the fire,” ASU quarterback Sam Leavitt told reporters this week. “I kind of get it (during) the preseason and stuff, but as we progressed through the year and kept proving people wrong and now people are seeing the product that we have, I’m a little confused over the outcome predictions.

“But I’m super-hyped about it. Opportunities are all you can ask for. Now I get an opportunity to play on the biggest stage and do what we do.”

Many of the questions directed at Arizona State players in the lead-up to this matchup have been about facing Texas’ top-ranked defense and going up against a high-profile quarterback like Quinn Ewers. The Sun Devils, making their first-ever CFP appearance, have answered each one with confidence and poise.

Leavitt, for example, said he’s looking forward to proving “why I’m the better quarterback,” words that quickly went viral. The young quarterback, who transferred from Michigan State after his freshman year, has had a solid first year in Tempe, passing for 2,663 yards with 24 touchdowns and just five interceptions. He’s made strides throughout the season, and in his last two games (wins over Arizona and then Iowa State in the Big 12 Championship Game), he completed more than 70% of his passes for a combined 510 yards and six touchdowns.

“I’ve kind of always been underrated my whole career,” Leavitt said. “Dating back to high school, early on I wasn’t even a high recruit, three-star, had about two offers going into my senior year. Then (I) played really well, became a four-star. The SEC teams didn’t really reach out and stuff like that.

“Then when I entered the transfer portal and came here, I didn’t have a name on my back and had to work for everything. Even going into this match, I feel like I’m still disrespected and we’re like a team in general. It’s a common goal for our whole team and everything like that.”

Of course, Leavitt didn’t care much for the comments he made about Ewers, a former No. 1 ranked recruit in the country coming out of high school. Although he noticed the ensuing conversation.

“I see it blew up a little bit,” Leavitt said, “which is cool … get my name out there on the stage a little bit more.

“I don’t feel like publicity is bad, especially if you don’t say anything. Quinn Ewers is such a big name in college football, and now it’s going to be a big conversation on the show, and now you want to go into the game, and people are going to be looking for things, so it’s just an opportunity for me to go and prove myself.”

Leavitt said the reaction to his comments will not add more pressure ahead of Wednesday’s clash.

“It doesn’t change anything for me,” Leavitt said. “I just go in to win the game. I don’t care what people think.”

Ewers, of course, was asked about Leavitt’s remarks during Peach Bowl Media Day.

“Congratulations to them on a great year, a great season,” Ewers said. “I’ve gotten to watch some of their games and (Leavitt is) a talented player and they’re a fun offense to watch. I’m just excited to go up against him.”

Meanwhile, Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo talked about his own game. The lethal downhill runner, who finished fifth in the 2024 Heisman Trophy voting, has said he doesn’t get enough respect when it comes to the top running backs in college football.

After the Sun Devils’ 45-19 clobbering of Iowa State in the Big 12 Championship Game, in which Skattebo rushed for a game-high 170 yards and a pair of touchdowns, Skattebo had this to say: “Nobody respects the fact that I’m the best running back in the country. If people want to respect that, I’ll keep proving people wrong.”

During Monday’s media session, Skattebo doubled down on his proclamation: “There’s nobody out there that can stop me,” the senior running back said.

While Skattebo’s claim has proven true to this point — he’s rushed for 494 yards and eight touchdowns over his past three games — he hasn’t faced a defense as good as Texas all year. The Longhorns have limited opponents to 104.2 rushing yards per game, 3.1 yards per carry and just 11 rushing touchdowns this season.

Pete Kwiatkowski’s defense prides itself on stopping the run and shutting down opposing running backs, something they addressed immediately after beating Clemson in the opening round of the CFP, setting up this game against Skattebo and the Sun Devils.

“In my time here, I feel like I’ve heard a lot that a team is going to come in here and run the ball on us,” Texas defensive end Barryn Sorrell said. “And there was a different result a lot of those times. So I’m just looking forward to that challenge again. Everybody up front is going to look forward to that challenge. That’s what we do as a defense: we harp on stopping the run.”

When asked about the challenge of stopping Skattebo, Texas defensive end Michael Taaffe had this to say: “He’s a hard-nosed, try-to-run-you-over type back. He’s also got great patience, good contact balance , big contact courage to where he’s leaning his shoulder, and maybe somebody’s trying to go for his leg, and he trips up and stays on his feet and runs for 40 more yards.

“The way he can be so versatile as a running back — jump cutting, run people over, spin moves — he’s got the whole package. And then (he’s a) passing threat. He’s just a guy who can do that whole , and obviously they’re calling his name and he’s ready to play every single Saturday.”

The fact that Texas has fallen over movies only motivates Skattebo even more.

“If they study hard, there’s a reason,” Skattebo said. “And I have full respect for them because they understand what they’re playing against and that’s why I love playing in such games because they always look at me as a threat and that’s something I always have wanted to be. “

There is no doubting the impact Skattebo has had during his senior campaign. He has rushed for 1,568 total yards with 19 touchdowns while adding 506 yards receiving with three more scores. While it’s true that he has yet to see a defense of the Longhorns’ caliber this year, it’s equally fair to say that Texas hasn’t faced the kind of challenge he presents either.

“Like I say, I feel like I’m the best,” Skattebo said. “No matter who they played, I still think I’m the best.

“I’m excited to play those guys because I’m going to introduce them to something new that they haven’t seen before. I’m excited and hopefully they’re ready to play some football.”

Laken Litman covers college football, college basketball and soccer for FOX Sports. She has previously written for Sports Illustrated, USA Today and The Indianapolis Star. She is the author of “Strong Like a Woman,” published in the spring of 2022 to mark the 50th anniversary of Title IX. Follow her at @LakenLitman.

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