It’s one thing to be a double-digit underdog as a higher seed; it’s another thing to have three weeks off to prepare for your opponent.
That was the case with Boise State and Arizona State, two of the four conference champions who earned themselves a first-round bye in the newly expanded 12-team College Football Playoff. Playing host — albeit at a neutral site — to Penn State and Texas, respectively, neither team was given much of a chance.
For both squads, the extended break presented a double-edged sword.
Between special teams’ miscues and struggles to establish their rushing attacks with Ashton Jeanty and Cam Skattebo, both teams came out flat and quickly found themselves in early holes. Boise State, despite making a second-half push, came up just short. The Broncos were within a missed field goal of turning Tuesday’s 31-14 loss to the Nittany Lions into a one-possession game, but it was ultimately too little, too late.
Arizona State also made a second-half push, erasing a 16-point deficit in the process. And in doing so, they also erased any lingering doubts about the “rust” from their 21-day layoff.
Sure, the first half might’ve looked like a team struggling with the extended break, but after halftime, the Sun Devils found their rhythm — though it was much later than Jesse Palmer’s original assessment.
“You know, Arizona State has had three and a half weeks off since their Big 12 Championship win,” said Palmer. “I think when you have that time off, think two things happen: one, you look rested, or two, you look rusty. Blocking, tackling, the fundamentals are just not there for Arizona State in any phase of the game. They’ve got to get it together.”
“When you have that time off, I think two things happen: one, you looked rested, or two, you look rusty.” https://t.co/27TXFJVq9d pic.twitter.com/RbjUWkr52h
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) January 1, 2025
At that point in the game, Texas had scored 14 points in 66 seconds off two explosives. And for all intents and purposes, Arizona State actually did look rusty. Palmer’s criticism wasn’t entirely off base; the Sun Devils appeared outclassed and overmatched, a team that had spent three weeks mulling over the prospect of playing either Texas or Clemson.
But once the teams came out of the break, Arizona State showed resilience and made a strong second-half push. They weren’t the same team that had looked lethargic and unprepared earlier on. Whether it was adjustments, renewed focus or simply the natural rhythm of the game, the Sun Devils were a 4th-and-13 stop away from clinching a Cotton Bowl berth.
The real takeaway here isn’t just that Boise State and Arizona State were coming off long breaks, but that the dreaded “rust” often isn’t as damaging as it’s made out to be. Both teams showed flashes of brilliance, proving they can still hang with the best, even after weeks of waiting — not to mention that both teams were significant underdogs.
In the new era of the expanded playoff, the bye week isn’t just a potential pitfall; it’s also a chance for teams to recharge, reset and return sharper than before. And Arizona State didn’t allow the conversation to become the same one that’s dominated the MLB Playoffs for the past three or more years.
As for Oregon, that’s an entirely different story.
