Texas football and head coach Steve Sarkisian advanced to the semifinals of the College Football Playoff at the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 10 against the Ohio State Buckeyes after defeating the Arizona State Sun Devils in double overtime at the Peach Bowl on New Year's Day.
Texas football making an impression on top 2026 recruits with their College Football Playoff postseason run after beating ASU in the Peach Bowl
Despite a herculean effort from Arizona State star running back Cam Skattebo yesterday in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Peach Bowl, the Longhorns overcame the Sun Devils' fourth-quarter and overtime comeback efforts for the 39-31 victory in Atlanta.
Texas had some other chances to win the game against Arizona State, including a couple of missed field goal attempts by kicker Bert Auburn in regulation. The Longhorns also stalled on offense with the ground game not doing much production-wise in the second half against a stout Arizona State defensive front seven.
What matters, though, is that quarterback Quinn Ewers and the Texas defensive secondary came up big when they needed them to in clutch time in the two overtimes against Arizona State. Texas is now just one win away from making it to the College Football Playoff National Championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Jan. 20.
Here's a look at three key 2026 recruits for the Longhorns who were impressed by Texas's win the double-OT thriller win over Arizona State on Jan. 1 at the Peach Bowl.
Dia Bell, QB (Texas commit)
Texas's top-rated commit in the 2026 recruiting class, Fort Lauderdale (FL) American Heritage five-star quarterback Dia Bell, has been rehabbing from an injury he suffered this fall to be back for the start of his senior season in 2025.
5-Star 2026 Texas QB commit Dia Bell recognizing the Longhorns' winning all NY6 bowl games after toppling Arizona State in double-OT in the Peach Bowl yesterday. pic.twitter.com/Om0ApRuPmL
— Hook'em Headlines (@HookemHeadlines) January 2, 2025
The Gatorade High School Football Player of the Year in Florida for 2024, Bell was locked in and engaged watching the Longhorns beat Arizona State in the Peach Bowl on Jan. 1. He recognized Texas being the first school to win all New Year's Six bowl games yesterday in a post on social media.
Zaden Krempin, OL
One of the top in-state priorities among uncommitted offensive line recruits in the 2026 class for the Longhorns, Prosper (TX) four-star Zaden Krempin has been closely watching Texas's Playoff run on the field this postseason. Krempin was impressed with the Longhorns' double-digit win over the Clemson Tigers in the first round of the Playoff at DKR a couple of weeks ago.
Krempin continues to root for the Longhorns to advance in the College Football Playoff this postseason. As many would've expected, it sounds like he didn't think this game would be going to overtime between Texas and Arizona State yesterday.
Chris Stewart, WR (Texas commit)
Texas's other blue-chip commitment in the 2026 class, Pearland (TX) Shadow Creek four-star wide receiver Chris Stewart, was pumped up and engaged on social media amid the Longhorns' overtime win over Arizona State yesterday.
Say it with me y’all , TEXAS -
— Christopher Stewart (@C1JS_) January 1, 2025
Stewart watched as junior wide receiver Matthew Golden had a huge game for the Longhorns, with nearly 150 receiving yards and the game-tying touchdown catch in the first overtime on a fourth down.
4-Star 2026 Texas WR commit Chris Stewart reacting to Matthew Golden's huge game yesterday in the double-OT win in the Peach Bowl CFP quarterfinal over Arizona State. pic.twitter.com/oXy21gDJEy
— Hook'em Headlines (@HookemHeadlines) January 2, 2025
He thought Texas has looked good in the passing game in the Playoff so far, and has been impressed by the play of the receivers in the past couple of weeks for the Longhorns.