Big 12 Championship Game

Arizona State (10-2) vs. Iowa State (10-2)

Saturday, December 7, 2024 at 12:00 p.m. ET

Arlington, Texas, AT&T Stadium

TV: ABC

Early line: Arizona State -1.5 (FanDuel)

What’s at stake:

Where Arizona State stands in the standings on Tuesday will determine whether the Sun Devils face a must-win situation, as the Big 12 could very well be a one-run league commandment exists. Arizona State has been a red-hot team across the board and probably doesn’t want to leave its fate up to the committee in hopes of getting an at-large offer.

Iowa State posted the first 10-win season in school history and only secured its spot when BYU defeated Houston late Saturday night in Provo, Utah. The Cyclones are desperate to win this game to ensure they are in the field, as they will clearly be passed over on a three-loss team.

How they got here:

Big 12 newcomer Arizona State was picked last in the 16-team league, proving that those involved in the voting are not a group of geniuses. The Sun Devils lost to Texas Tech in Week 4 and their only other setback (against Cincinnati) came when quarterback Sam Leavitt (rib) was sidelined. Arizona State is coming off five straight wins, including a 49-7 win over Arizona on Saturday.

Iowa State defeated rival Iowa on Sept. 7 and topped Houston three weeks later with a 7-0 start. But back-to-back losses to Texas Tech and Kansas have pushed the Cyclones out of the CFP Top 25, making a spot feel like a long way off. But Iowa State bounced back with three straight wins, including a competitive game against Kansas State on Saturday, before getting the help it needed from BYU to clinch the conference title game spot ahead of Colorado.

Names to know:

–Arizona State

QB Sam Leavitt

Had a surprisingly good season with 2,444 yards and 21 touchdowns against five interceptions. Since returning from injury, he has recorded three passing points in four of his five games.

RB Cam Skattebo

The tough guy is the face of Arizona State’s rise with 1,398 yards and 17 touchdowns on the ground along with 35 catches for 468 yards and two scores.

WR Jordyn Tyson

He collected 75 receptions for 1,101 yards and 10 scores and racked up 444 yards in the final three games.

–Iowa State

QB Rocco Becht

Had 20 touchdowns against eight interceptions and threw for 3,021 yards, joining Brock Purdy – the former Mr. Irrelevant – as the only Iowa State quarterbacks to throw for more than 3,000 yards in a season twice.

WR Jayden Higgins

Has 80 catches for 1,068 yards and nine touchdowns, while he and teammate Jaylin Noel (1,013) become the first duo in school history to reach 1,000 receiving yards in the same season.

CB Jontez Williams

Those four interceptions led a unit that allowed 21 or fewer points eight times.

Xs and Os:

Arizona State has made it its mission to shatter the “nothing good” label and was the best team in the Big 12 in November. Second-year coach Kenny Dillingham had just three wins in his first season and now the Sun are Devils the team that others don’t want to play against.

Iowa State had won nine games in a season only three times before this season, but now has a chance to win 11 or more this season. The Cyclones won’t scare anyone across the talent spectrum, but late-season success suggests a team on the verge of making the playoffs.

Forecast:

Iowa State 19, Arizona State 17

–Field level media