Sam Leavitt, Cam Skattebo express confidence in Arizona State's ability to beat Texas in Peach Bowl

The 2025 Peach Bowl will serve as host for the College Football Playoff quarterfinal between four-seed Arizona State (11-2, Big 12 champion) and five-seed Texas (12-2, SEC runner-up).

Before the game even kicks off on Jan. 1, two players are already displaying their confidence in a bit of a boisterous manner.

Sun Devil quarterback Sam Leavitt, a redshirt freshman transfer from Michigan State, told reporters Monday during media availability that he respects Texas passer Quinn Ewers but he's tired of being underestimated.

"I've watched [Ewers] for a fair amount of time now. I'm just excited for the opportunity," Leavitt said. "People keep counting me out since day one, and I'm gonna go prove why I'm the better quarterback."

"There's nobody out there that can stop me," running back Cam Skattebo told reporters Monday. The Sacramento State transfer finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting and has dominated defenses by racking up 2,074 all-purpose yards and 22 touchdowns this year..

"I've been the target on each [game], so I'm not too worried," Skattebo continued. "We're going to play our game and play ball and see what happens there."

Leavitt and Skattebo's Peach Bowl trash talk could ignite a fire under Texas

Despite Texas having a relatively dominant record, how it achieved its 12 victories has been cause for concern among pundits and some fans. Ewers missed some time with injury and his backup, Arch Manning, caused some unintended controversy in who should lead the Longhorns under center.

Leavitt may not be trying to stoke that fire with his comments but it certainly can be interpreted as prime bulletin board material for Ewers and Co. in the Texas locker room. Skattebo surely made the target on his back bigger too.

In 12 games started, Leavitt has racked up 2,663 passing yards and 29 total touchdowns so, his resume this season is nothing to sneeze at. Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian will need to game plan around his ability to distribute the ball efficiently and figure out how to stop him.

The Longhorns, however, are heavy favorites. They're receiving double-digit points by multiple sportsbooks against the upstart Sun Devils. Leavitt and Skattebo will both need to have career showings in Atlanta to prove their comments right or risk being served a slice of humble peach pie.