Arizona State falls to Texas in CFP Peach Bowl in double overtime after controversial targeting no-call

The College Football Playoff finally had itself a closely contested game, and Arizona State was more than happy to be the ones who made it happen. After trailing 17-3 at halftime and looking like they were going to get blown out, the Sun Devils pulled off a miraculous comeback that ultimately fell short, 39-31 in double overtime.

After Arizona State's opening drive of the third quarter came up short on fourth and goal from the Texas 2-yard line, safety Shamari Simmons - who was making his debut in the game after sitting out the first half for a targeting penalty in the Big 12 championship game nearly a full month ago - came up with a huge play.

That safety gave the Sun Devils the ball right back, and they moved down the field primarily by way of Cam Skattebo. Ultimately, Arizona State settled for a field goal, cutting the deficit to 17-8. The Longhorns responded with a long, methodical drive that ate up five and a half minutes and ended with a touchdown.

Now trailing 24-8 with 10 minutes in the fourth quarter, things looked over for the Sun Devils. But the resiliency that's been such a common thread for this team all year long showed up yet again. They moved the ball down the field before facing a fourth and short at the Texas 42-yard line. That's when Skattebo went supernova:

Yes, you read that right: Skattebo, the star running back who finished fifth in Heisman voting, threw a 42-yard touchdown pass to Malik McClain. Arizona State then went for two and Sam Leavitt found Xavier Guillory for the successful try. Just like that, the Sun Devils trailed by one score.

Two plays later, the Sun Devil defense made a play of their own. Quinn Ewers went deep on second down and Javan Robinson closed ground in a hurry to make a leaping interception.

Arizona State's offense came back onto the field with five and a half minutes left and needing a touchdown and two point conversion to tie things up. On their very first play from their own 21-yard line, Leavitt rolled out right before lobbing a bomb to his left, where none other than Skattebo was waiting.

Two plays later, Skattebo ran in for a touchdown. On the two point try, Leavitt was flushed out of the pocket and ended up running all over the field before throwing a tipped interception. However, a defensive holding penalty gave Arizona State a second chance, and Skattebo pounded into the endzone for two points, tying the game.

Texas got the ball back with exactly five minutes left and hit two big pass plays, one to Gunnar Helm and another to Matthew Golden, before the defense made a big stop on third and long. Kicker Bert Auburn went out to attempt a 48-yard field goal and just slightly hooked it to the right.

Then came the controversy.

On third down and needing 15 yards, Leavitt hit Melquan Stovall short of the sticks for a 10-yard pickup. Defensive back Michael Taaffe drilled Stovall in the facemask as he took him down, but no flag was thrown. As Stovall laid on the ground for some time after, the officials reviewed the play for targeting. To the surprise of everyone, including ESPN's on-air rules analyst Matt Austin, they ruled there was no targeting.

Instead of giving Arizona State 15 yards and an automatic first down in Texas territory, the Sun Devils had to punt. The Longhorns looked to have won the game after a huge 27-yard pass that got them right on the cusp of the red zone, but Auburn shanked the field goal - this time from 38 yards - as time expired to send it to over time.

The Sun Devils started with the ball in overtime and quickly drummed up some more drama. After Skattebo was tackled just short on third down, Leavitt ran the quarterback sneak on fourth and inches, getting it by the hair on his chin. A few plays later, Leavitt picked up a clutch first down on a gutsy third and long scramble:

That scramble set up first and goal, which led to a Skattebo touchdown run that perfectly encapsulated the grit of this team:

Then it was Texas' turn. Ewers threw incomplete on first down; Tre Wisner was stuffed on second down; Ewers hit a quick checkdown on third down to bring up 4th & 8. Forced to go for it, Ewers found Golden in the corner of the endzone, sending things to double overtime.

With the Longhorns starting this one off, they ran a tricky extended RPO - something the Sun Devils had struggled defending all day - that sprung Helm wide open for the touchdown. One play and they had scored. Then, Ewers found Golden for the two point try to go up 39-31.

The tables now turned, Arizona State was in a high pressure situation of having to get eight points for a third overtime. Leavitt hit Skattebo on an early pass to move the chains, but then the talented young quarterback tried to test the secondary in the corner of the endzone and was picked off. Just like that, the season was over for the Sun Devils.

Skattebo - who vomited earlier in the game and finished with 42 passing yards, 143 rushing yards, 99 receiving yards, and three total touchdowns - was visibly upset and was quickly consoled by his teammates.

It's a bitter end to a magical season for Arizona State, who defied all odds to get to this stage. The fact that they gave Texas everything they could handle, and provided the first truly close game of this entire playoff, is something to hang their hat on.

Still, this game will be talked about for a long time, not only for its great entertainment value but for the high controversy of the targeting call that wasn't. The game shifted dramatically on that decision, and there will be plenty of discussion over the coming days around that moment.