Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
By Sam Neumann on

Arizona State might not have been favored, but the Sun Devils proved they were far from outclassed in the College Football Playoff.

Especially when it mattered most.

You could argue that rust played a role in their 39-31 double-overtime loss, given that none of the teams with automatic byes advanced to the CFP semifinals. Still, we’d push back on that notion — mainly because Kenny Dillingham’s squad had Texas on the ropes, fighting for its survival in the Peach Bowl.

Just ask Nick Saban.

“They competed and really almost kind of physically kicked Texas’ ass a little bit in this game,” Saban said on Pat McAfee’s show Thursday.

However, SEC Network analyst Benjamin Watson had a different take.

The 15-year NFL veteran tight end and Georgia alum suggested Texas “outclassed” Arizona State when the stakes were highest.

That’s one way of looking at it.

Arizona State out-rushed Texas, 214-53. The Sun Devils also had more first downs and total yards. Obviously, that doesn’t tie into the notion of the moments that matter, but entering halftime down 17-3 and being a few plays away from playing in the Cotton Bowl seemingly tells a different story.

And claiming that Arizona State was “outclassed” disregards the cover-zero blitz that Quinn Ewers capitalized on to tie the game in overtime. Yes, Texas made a play when it counted, but that’s based on a coaching gamble and has less to do with outclassing your opponent.

And let us not forget — the Longhorns benefited from a non-targeting call in regulation that could’ve sealed the game for the Sun Devils.

But that’s beside the point Watson was trying to make.

“This is the thing, in watching Texas, it’s almost like they outclass teams when it matters,” said Watson. “And that’s what happened tonight. They simply outclassed Arizona State when it mattered. It wasn’t pretty, but when it came down to it, they have a better roster, they rised to the occasion, they’ve been through some of these games before.

“Look, coming back into this game, there had to been some PTSD coming back to this game, the way they lost to Georgia in overtime; the way they missed field goals, then you saw them step up at the right times… There might not be a game where we sit here and say, ‘Texas played incredibly for all four quarters.’ As a matter of fact, there’s not many teams that do play well for all four quarters. And, so, that’s what it is right now; it’s about making plays whenever you have the opportunity to.”

Did Texas look bigger? Sure. But at times, they also looked vulnerable.

Pointing to a 4th-and-13 conversion and calling it “outclassing” seems like a stretch at best. And it just gives more ammo to those who believe that SEC-centric commentary has muddied the conversation around college football.

[SEC Network on X]

About Sam Neumann

Since the beginning of 2023, Sam has been a staff writer for Awful Announcing and The Comeback. A 2021 graduate of Temple University, Sam is a Charlotte native, who currently calls Greenville, South Carolina his home. He also has a love/hate relationship with the New York Mets and Jets.

View all posts by Sam Neumann