Dallas, TX- At this time one year ago, the Arizona State Sun Devils walked off their stadium in Tempe, falling 59-23 to rival Arizona and mercifully ending a 3-9 season in the Pac-12. 378 days later, the Sun Devils are hoisting the Dr. Pepper Big 12 Championship Trophy and belt at AT&T Stadium with a 45-19 rout over Iowa State and are heading to the College Football Playoff.
“Players played really well,” Head Coach Kenny Dillingham said, then paused. “Our players are… good. They are good people. It’s a good combination. We’re 11-1 with our starting quarterback beating four ranked teams [and] won the Big 12 Championship. Because we made the standard that the quarterback is that valuable, I think there should be a real chance that we get a first-round bye,” Dillingham added.
Saturday’s conference title game had Cam Skattebo’s name written all over. The Sun Devils running back tied a Big 12 Championship record for a running back with three total touchdowns and eighteen points on his 208 scrimmage yards afternoon (170 on the ground).
“I’ve been disrespected my whole life. I’ve always been the underdog, and nobody respects the fact that I’m the best running back in the country. I’m going to stand on that,” Skattebo said when asked about the Heisman celebration on each touchdown today. “No matter winning the Heisman or losing the Heisman, I should still be in that situation.”
Sam Leavitt followed that afternoon with 219 yards passing and 33 yards rushing with four total touchdowns.
“Big-time players make big-time plays in moments, and I’d call a royal player for that,” Same Leavitt said regarding the team win on Saturday.
Arizona State marched down the field in their first three plays, going for 53 yards. The Cyclone’s defense didn’t break as the opening drive stalled with a Carston Kieffer 32-yard field goal. Then, on Iowa State’s opening drive, they moved down the field on 11 plays and 75 yards (with the assistance of two Arizona State penalties). The drive capped off with a 3-yard touchdown toss from Rocco Becht to Carson Hansen.
The Sun Devils answered thanks to a 63-yard Sam Leavitt pass to Melquan Stovall on a fourth down to set up Arizona State at the Cyclones’ three-yard-line. After several tries, Leavitt took it to the left side into the end zone, jumping Arizona State back up 10-7. On the ensuing possession, Iowa State moved the ball, closing the closing quarter with 4 of their final 5 plays going for more than 10 yards. However, the change in field stalled the Cyclones, and they settled for a game-tying 36-yard field goal from Kyle Konrardy to even the score at 10 one minute into the second quarter.
In their first possession of the second quarter, Arizona State relied on the legs of Skattebo. Skattebo started the drive with a 47-yard run and finished the scoring drive with a 3-yard carry up the middle to the end zone, putting the Sun Devils back up 17-10. On the final first-half drive, Skattebo took over with two more carries and a catch, 60 yards on the drive, totaling his second touchdown of the half, putting Arizona State up 24-10 at halftime. The 317 yards allowed for Iowa State at halftime was just under the threshold of yards allowed per game for the Cyclones.
Turnovers were the key word to describe the third quarter. Iowa State turned over the ball on an Abu Sama fumble, which gave the Sun Devils possession immediately in the Cyclones’ territory. Then, on a ten-play drive, it was a Leavitt to Xavier Guillory touchdown connection, taking advantage of the first Iowa State turnover. On the next drive, it was a Bocht pass that deflected at the line of scrimmage, falling into the hands of Keith Abney II. The interception led to another Leavitt to Guillory connection, 21 yards.
“Sam makes it easy. He works hard [and] probably the hardest worker on the team. When he stepped on campus, I knew I had something with him,” Guillory said in his connection to the last few games with Leavitt.” We were by ourselves on the field getting our timing down, and that’s with everybody.”
The wheel fell off after another Cyclones’ fumble (second fumble for Sama). Three plays into the drive, Leavitt found Skattebo for 33 yards, equaling three touchdown throws for Leavitt in the third quarter. A Konrardy 24-yard field goal and a Jaylin Noel touchdown catch from Becht added some positive energy for Iowa State, but there was too much heat to overcome. Fans that came from Tempe to Arlington roared the house of the Dallas Cowboys with a 26-point domination victory for Arizona State.
“I thought we had a really good plan early, a lot of checks with me, and a lot of getting themselves into good plays [and] good numbers. I think Coach Ward did a nice job combating it. Then I think our players got comfortable,” Coach Dillingham said.
For the Sun Devils, the question arises if Saturday’s domination of Iowa State is enough to secure a bye in the first round of the College Football Playoff. Nevertheless, fans, alums, players, and coaches can celebrate their first trip to the College Football Playoff. Something most, if not all, thought wasn’t possible before the 2024 season started.
“They predicted us to be last in this conference,” Sun Devils Senior Defensive Back Xavion Alford said. “I guarantee you, nobody in the building thought we were the worst team in the conference and it’s because we believe in each other.”
