Steve Sarkisian breaks down how Texas found success on game-tying touchdown in overtime

Texas had its back against the wall in overtime against Arizona State in the Peach Bowl on Wednesday. Needing a touchdown to tie the game on fourth and long, Quinn Ewers connected with Matthew Golden on a 28-yard strike.

According to Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian, a lot more went into that play’s success than meets the eye.

Get your team’s official College Football Playoff watch from AXIA by CLICKING HERE: “Watches that tell so much more than time”

“I thought there was a couple of things that were impressive. One, I thought it was a great job of preparation by our coaches in relaying that to our players. We actually practiced that play versus that exact defense during the week,” Sarkisian said after the quarterfinal victory.

Ewers called an audible on Texas’ protection on the play, a max protection according to Sarkisian, to help the play before the ball saw snapped. Sarkisian praised his QB1 for handling the Arizona State pressure up the middle on the play and eventually making the game-saving touchdown throw to Golden.

“[Ewers] changing it, to them getting the protection and then Matt [Golden] understanding why that route was going to be there predicated on the coverage — I thought Quinn’s ability to stand in the pocket and deliver the ball the way that he did was a real strike,” Sarkisian continued. “There were layers to the whole thing.”

Sarkisian admitted that Texas “guessed a little” hoping that the Sun Devils would blitz. The Longhorns guessed right, and it paid off.

Overtime rules gave the ball right back to Texas, who scored on the very first play of the second OT period and would ultimately be the difference in the game.

Ewers finished the game with 322 passing yards, four total touchdowns and an interception during the contest. However, the Sun Devils held the Longhorns to 53 yards on the ground, something they’ll have to clean up by the time the Cotton Bowl comes around.

They’ll now turn their attention toward the white-hot Ohio State Buckeyes, who have outscored their College Football Playoff opponents 83-38 in its two postseason matchups, in the Cotton Bowl.

Kickoff between the Longhorns and Buckeyes is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday, Jan. 10 in Dallas. The game will be aired live on ESPN.