Arizona State passes the test and defeats Iowa State

Cinderella is alive and kicking.

The No. 15 Arizona State Sun Devils (11-2) kept their dream season alive, clinching a spot in the Big 12 Championship Game with a 45-19 win over No. 16 Iowa State (10-3) in the Big 12 Championship Game on Saturday College Football Playoffs at AT&T Stadium.

It was the sixth win in a row for coach Kenny Dillingham’s team; their last defeat came on October 19th in Cincinnati. It is also the program’s first outright conference championship since 1996, following a co-championship in 2007.

It is the first 11-win season since 1996 (11-1) and just the sixth in program history (Frank Kush four times, Bruce Snyder once). This also makes the Sun Devils one of only three Power 4/5 teams since 2012 to increase their win total by eight games from one season to the next (TCU 2021-22, Indiana 2023-24).

It was the fourth win this season against a ranked opponent and strengthens ASU’s case for a bye in the first round of the playoffs. ASU’s playoff fate will be announced Sunday at 10 a.m. MST.

“It just shows what we can be,” Dillingham said. “With the right direction, with the right players who are committed to the program and the work, I think you can achieve anything here.”

“In conclusion, I think these guys chose not only Arizona State, but also the city, the community and the weather. They were talking here recently about the weather. It’s like they’ve decided on everything that concerns the valley.” What’s special about it is that these people are the kind of people who love it here, and I think that’s special.

Let’s look at the following:

What went well

Insult, lots of insult: The Sun Devils totaled 464 yards of offense. No, that’s not quite the season high the Sun Devils reached last week, but that was only against inferior Arizona and against a tough opponent when it mattered most. There was a balance of 245 rushing yards and 219 passing yards, even though Dillingham withdrew its starters early in the fourth quarter. ASU ran 57 plays, 13 fewer than Iowa State, but averaged 8.1 per game.

Snack frenzy: This is an area where ASU has excelled all season. ASU had three takeaways, all in the second half, and the Sun Devils converted all three into touchdowns, part of a 35-0 run that put the Cyclones in the rearview mirror. ASU had no turnovers and Leavitt only had one interception in the last six games, the one against BYU.

Brilliant fourth-down conversion: ASU trailed 7-3 and faced a fourth-and-1 in its 34th game. Dillingham has been a player in the past, and it hasn’t always worked out. Everyone probably thought the ball was going to Skattebo, but it was a well-thought-out passing play that saw Levitt throw to Melquan Stovall, who ran 63 yards before being hauled down at the 3. Leavitt later let it run for a 10-7 lead. Dillingham called it a “game-changer” and praised offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo’s play-calling.

Won big, got players out: The oddsmakers had this game practically tied (Iowa State had a one-point lead at kickoff), so it was surprising to see ASU take control like that and build a big lead that allowed Dillingham to pull his starters after two minutes the last quarter. Not only did this give some younger players valuable experience, but the Sun Devils also got their key players out instead of risking a serious injury, as was the case with Jordyn Tyson last week.

What went wrong?

Skattebo’s pass attempt: It was perhaps the ugliest pass you will ever see. Skatteboo took a handoff and was chased several yards behind the line of scrimmage, only to release a pass that went wide out of bounds. While it was hardly what was planned, it proved to be a good play as it avoided a 17-yard loss.

staff

The most notable change came at placekicker when redshirt freshman Carston Kieffer replaced Parker Lewis. Keiffer hit a 32-yard field goal on the Sun Devils’ first possession and made all PAT attempts. Ian Hershey took over kickoff duties in place of Lewis. . . Nickel Shamari Simmons was sent off for a tackle in the second half and his place was taken by freshman Kyan McDonald. Simmons will sit out the first half of ASU’s next game. . . Leading receiver Tyson (collarbone) was placed on the injured list and missed his first game after undergoing surgery earlier this week. Troy Omeire took his place in the starting lineup but did not record a catch. . . This play didn’t count against a redshirt player and with Tyson out, Malik McClain saw some action and made a big 43-yard catch. It was his first this season.

Grades

crime (A): There wasn’t much to complain about on offense, it’s constantly evolving and Leavitt is improving every week. He went 12 of 17 for 219 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. The running game netted 245 yards, with Skattebo scoring 170 and three total touchdowns. Six players accounted for turnovers, with Stovall catching four for 91 yards, the longest for 63 yards. ASU was 5 for 5 in the red zone (four touchdowns and a field goal).

Defense (A-): The Cyclones drove right down the field on their first two possessions, making it look like it was going to be a long day. ASU adapted well and, above all, forced a few turnovers. Iowa State managed 341 yards, but 270 of those came on scoring drives, and many came late in the contest with ASU’s understudies. Xavion Alford had a team-high seven tackles. Keith Abney had an interception, while Jeff Clark and Justin Wodtly recovered fumbles.

Special teams (B-): Kieffer scored a 32-yard field goal, his first of the season. He also made all the extra points. Punter Kanyon Floyd had two attempts for an average of 33.5 yards, one of which failed inside 20 yards. There were no return yards to speak of, but given ASU’s struggles on field goals, it was good to see some success.

You said it

ASU quarterback Sam Leavitt on Cam Skattebo

“He’s a little crazy, you know, but he just talks about plans and tells me what he sees on the field and what exactly he thinks. Let’s talk about a super intelligent player. He’s one of the best I’ve ever played with, although not the best, I think of his little run-around and throw that I probably shouldn’t have made, but he knew where I was so would It wasn’t an intentional grounding, so it was a super smart play. Yes, the child is simply unreal.

ASU WR Xavier Guillory starts while Jordyn Tyson is out

“We knew he was out in the last game, he’s our brother. It hurt to see the work he put in, he wouldn’t play. Top down. We had Malik (McClain) in week four and we had a great performance. We play with Sam every day The guy is going to kick Melquan (Stovall) had some great plays today, I was proud of how everyone responded to the pressure situation. I’m all proud of how everyone reacted.

Safety Xavion Alford on his chance at a title after sitting out last year

“It’s surreal. I can’t put it into words. I’m blessed to be in this room next to these three guys and to be on this team. I would like to commend Coach Dillingham and the staff in making the move. “They took the risk that I might be locked out of the portal. The only thing that changed was that I couldn’t play all year round. They motivated me and kept me going. …I could sit and sulk about it, otherwise it would just be a blessing to be here, I just can’t put it into words.

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Arizona State passes the test and defeats Iowa State

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