ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Cam Skattebo ran for 170 yards and scored two scores while adding a touchdown catch as Big 12 newcomer Arizona State took on No. 16 Iowa State in the conference championship game on Saturday 45-19 and secured a spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff.

The Sun Devils (11-2, No. 15 CFP), with their 34-year-old head coach Kenny Dillingham, will be the only Big 12 team in the expanded playoff field after landing at the bottom of the playoffs as a preseason pick in the new league 16 teams. They are on a six-game winning streak.

Iowa State (10-3, No. 16 CFP), already having its first 10-win season in the program’s 133-year history, trailed 24-10 on its first three drives after halftime before turnovers in its own territory . Arizona State benefited from freshman Sam Leavitt throwing touchdowns every time.

Xavier Guillory had TD catches of 8 and 21 yards in a span of 71 seconds, and Skattebo converted a swing pass on third down into a 33-yard score for a 45-10 lead that he won with his second Heisman award. Trophy pose of the day underlined. Leavitt completed 12 of 17 passes for 219 yards.

Arizona State is guaranteed a playoff spot as one of the five highest-seeded conference champions, but will almost certainly finish behind Mountain West champion Boise State (12-1, No. 10).

That would give the Broncos a first-round bye and send the Sun Devils to a first-round game on the road, much to the dismay of Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark, who reiterated his feelings on the matter before the title game.

Skattebo had a 28-yard run on the first offensive snap of the game. His TD runs were only 3 and 2 yards, but he had long, tackle-evading runs to open both drives. His 2,074 yards from scrimmage (1,568 rushing and 506 receiving) are a single-season school record.

There was a 47-yard run when he spun away from defenders at the line and then fended off another run. Then, just before halftime, he had a 53-yard run, again after contact at the line, before twisting and turning past the Cyclones who were chasing him.

Rocco Becht threw a touchdown in his 17th straight game for the Cyclones, including a 3-yarder to Carson Hansen on the first drive that gave them their only lead, 7-3. Becht completed 21 of 35 passes for 214 yards and two touchdowns.

Becht returned to the game after being sacked on a fourth-down play early in the fourth quarter when linebacker Shamari Simmons was sent off for targeting.

Great plays

Even without injured lead receiver Jordan Tyson, the Sun Devils had a lot of big plays. Leavitt’s first pass was a 22-yard pass to Melquan Stovall, who later had a 63-yard catch to convert a fourth-and-1.

Arizona State had six plays of more than 20 yards – all in the first half, when Iowa State’s longest play was 19 yards. The Cyclones got Becht’s 25-yard TD late to Jaylin Noel, one of their two 1,000-yard receivers.

Tyson, who had 624 yards receiving in five games in November, injured his left arm in the second half of the regular-season finale against Arizona.

The takeaway food

Arizona State won its first outright conference title since winning the Pac-10 in 1996. It’s an impressive Big 12 debut after going 3-9 in its final Pac-12 season. The increase of eight wins is a school record – the previous one was five. Arizona State and Indiana (11-1) are the only FBS schools with eight-win improvements over last year.

Iowa State entered November undefeated for the first time since 1938. The Cyclones then lost two straight games before winning three in a row to advance to their second Big 12 title game. They lost to Oklahoma in the 2020 game.

Next

Arizona State advances to the 12-team College Football Playoff and will find out who and where it will play on Sunday.

Iowa State will find out its bowl destination on Sunday, likely either the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio or the Pop Tarts Bowl in Orlando.

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