As the Arizona State Sun Devils face the Iowa State Cyclones in the Big 12 championship game on Saturday, both teams will look to compete for a spot in the College Football Playoff.

The Sun Devils’ success in 2024 was one of the biggest surprises in college football, considering ASU had won three games in the previous two seasons. The Sun Devils finished last in the Big 12 Football Media Preseason Poll, while Iowa State was ranked sixth.

The game marks the first time ASU has played in a conference championship game since 2013. ASU is hoping for a better result than its previous effort, which saw the Sun Devils lose to Stanford 38-14 in the Pac-12 Championship.

Saturday’s game also marks the first time the ASU and Iowa State football teams will face each other. With the Sun Devils ranked No. 12 in the AP poll Sunday after beating Arizona in the Territorial Cup and Iowa State ranked No. 16 after a win over Kansas State, both teams are seeking their first Big 12 Conference championship win .

What to expect from ASU’s offense and defense

Quarterback Sam Leavitt and ASU’s offense could be without wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, who left Saturday’s Territorial Cup game with an arm injury and was seen with one arm in a sling after the game.

Despite the injury, ASU was once again able to rely heavily on the running game behind senior running back Cam Skattebo, who rushed for 177 yards and three touchdowns in Saturday’s win. Skattebo passed for over 1,300 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2024.

With Tyson potentially out, Leavitt’s top targets through the air include tight end Chamon Metayer and receiver Xavier Guillory, as well as Skattebo, who caught 35 passes for 468 yards and two touchdowns.

Defensively, Arizona State has the 27th ranked rushing defense in the countryallowing 115.5 yards per game. ASU’s pass defense ranks 69th nationally, allowing 219.8 yards per game. Defensive back Keith Abney II leads the team with seven passes defended and is tied for the team lead in interceptions (2).

What to expect from Iowa State’s offense and defense

The Cyclones’ offense is led by second-year quarterback Rocco Becht, who has thrown for over 3,000 yards with 20 touchdowns while also running for 270 yards and seven scores.

Becht has two solid receivers in seniors Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, with both players recording over 1,000 receiving yards in 2024. The rushing game is led by sophomore Carson Hansen, who has rushed for 618 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Iowa State’s strength on defense is pass defense, with the Cyclones allowing just 156.9 yards per game, which ranks third nationally. Sophomore defensive back Jontez Williams leads the team with four interceptions, while junior Jeremiah Cooper leads the team with six passes defended.

Iowa State’s run defense has struggled this season, as the Cyclones rank 96th among FBS teams in run defense (176.4 yards allowed per game). Since ASU’s rushing offense ranks 24th nationally with 195 yards per game, expect ASU and Skattebo to have plenty of possession in Saturday’s matchup.

Who is the favorite in the Big 12 title game?

According to FanDuel Sportsbook, the Sun Devils are the 2.5-point favorite over the Cyclones.

Here’s how to watch and listen to Arizona State-Iowa State

Arizona State will face Iowa State in the Big 12 Championship game on December 7 at 10 a.m. MST on ABC at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

Listen to play-by-play coverage on 98.7 FM, the Arizona Sports app and ArizonaSports.com.