Tag: Arizona State

Jan 1, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils running back Cam Skattebo (4) and Texas Longhorns defensive back Michael Taaffe (16) push each other during the second half of the Peach Bowl at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

No. 5 Texas blows big lead, recovers to beat No. 4 Arizona State

Posted on | by Field Level Media

ATLANTA — Quinn Ewers threw a go-ahead 25-yard touchdown to Gunnar Helm, helping No. 5 Texas beat No. 4 Arizona State 39-31 in double overtime on Wednesday in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal game at the Peach Bowl.

Texas’ Andrew Mukuba intercepted Sam Leavitt on the ensuing possession, clinching the win for Texas (13-2), which squandered a 16-point fourth-quarter lead. Ewers completed 20 of 30 passes for 322 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. Matthew Golden caught seven passes for 149 yards and a score.

Up next for Texas is the winner of the Rose Bowl between No. 1 Oregon and No. 8 Ohio State. That contest is slated to be played in the Cotton Bowl in Arlington, Texas on Jan. 10.

Cam Skattebo had 242 all-purpose yards, including 143 rushing, to go along with three total touchdowns for Arizona State (11-3).

After Skattebo rushed for a 3-yard touchdown on overtime’s opening possession, Ewers connected with Golden for a game-tying 28-yard touchdown pass on fourth and 13.

Trailing by 14 at halftime, Arizona State took its opening drive of the second half to Texas’ 2-yard line, where it was turned away on third and fourth downs, turning the ball over on downs for the third time.

Arizona State salvaged the opportunity on the ensuing play, as Shamari Simmons forced Quintrevion Wisner’s fumble in the end zone, where it was recovered by Ewers for a safety, cutting Texas’ lead to 17-5 with 6:51 left in the third quarter.

The Sun Devils cut into the deficit on their next possession with Carston Kieffer’s 36-yard field goal with 41 seconds remaining in the third.

Texas then found the end zone for the first time since the first quarter, as its 13-play, 76-yard drive was stamped with Ewers’ 5-yard touchdown rush with 10:17 left in the fourth quarter.

Arizona State pulled within one score on its next drive, as Skattebo’s 42-yard touchdown pass to Malik McClain was followed by Leavitt’s pass to Xavier Guillory on the two-point conversion with 6:31 left.

Ewers was then intercepted by Javan Robinson and Leavitt completed a 62-yard pass to Skattebo, setting up Skattebo’s 2-yard rushing touchdown and game-tying two-point conversion with five minutes remaining.

Texas kicker Bert Auburn then missed field goals on consecutive Texas drives, including a 38-yarder as time expired.

Arizona State took a 3-0 lead on Kieffer’s 39-yard field goal at the 8:59 mark of the first quarter. Ewers answered with a 23-yard touchdown pass to DeAndre Moore Jr.45 seconds later.

Texas tacked on with Silas Bolden’s 75-yard punt return touchdown, extending the Longhorns’ lead to 14-3 with 7:08 remaining.

Texas added three points on Auburn’s 22-yard field goal with 8:54 left in the second quarter. Kieffer’s 36-yard field goal was blocked with 11 seconds left, preserving Texas’ 17-3 halftime lead.

–Jack Batten, Field Level Media

Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham responds to a question during a joint news conference with Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian before facing off in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.

Arizona State extends Kenny Dillingham’s contract

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Arizona State, on the eve of its first appearance in the College Football Playoff, rewarded coach Kenny Dillingham with a contract extension.

Sun Devils athletic director Graham Rossini announced the move Tuesday in Atlanta, where No. 4 seed Arizona State will oppose No. 5 seed Texas on Wednesday in a CFP quarterfinal game.

Rossini provided no details, but multiple media outlets reported that Dillingham received a five-year contract that will land him among the best-paid coaches in the Big 12.

According to ESPN, incentives could wind up making it a 10-year contract, though Arizona state law technically prohibits public university deals from running longer than five years.

The Sun Devils went 3-9 in 2023, Dillingham’s first season on the job and program’s last season in the Pac-12.

Arizona State moved into the Big 12 this year and made an immediate splash, going 11-2 and routing Iowa State 45-19 in the conference championship game. The latter result not early gave the Sun Devils a CFP berth but also a bye into the quarterfinals.

Dillingham, 34, is an Arizona State alumnus who began his coaching career at the school as an offensive assistant in 2014-15. He subsequently was a graduate assistant and then an assistant coach at Memphis (2016-18), working as the offensive coordinator his final year there.

Dillingham also served as offensive coordinator at Auburn (2019), Florida State (2020-21) and Oregon (2022) before taking over the top job in Tempe, Ariz.

–Field Level Media

Dec 7, 2024; Arlington, TX, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils running back Cam Skattebo (4) and offensive lineman Leif Fautanu (79) and quarterback Sam Leavitt (10) celebrate during the game between the Iowa State Cyclones and the Arizona State Sun Devils at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

No. 4 Arizona State bids to continue stunning season vs. No. 5 Texas in Peach Bowl

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They weren’t expected to win their conference. They certainly weren’t expected to qualify for the College Football Playoff.

Nonetheless, the fourth-seeded Arizona State Sun Devils (11-2) have a chance to earn perhaps the biggest win in program history when they battle fifth-seeded Texas (12-2) in a CFP quarterfinal on New Year’s Day at the Peach Bowl in Atlanta.

The winner will meet either top-seeded Oregon or No. 8 seed Ohio State in a semifinal game at the Cotton Bowl on Jan. 10 in Arlington, Texas.

Projected last in the preseason Big 12 poll, Arizona State secured an automatic bid to its first CFP with a 45-19 drubbing of Iowa State in the conference championship on Dec. 7.

Despite the Sun Devils boasting 311 fewer all-time victories than the Longhorns, Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham doesn’t see the matchup as David versus Goliath.

“No, I wouldn’t say that,” Dillingham said. “I would say this is a really good football team that was predicted to win a national championship versus the Big 12 champion. I’m excited to see our guys go out there and compete.”

Riding a six-game winning streak, Arizona State will have rested for 24 days by the time New Year’s Day rolls around, admittedly an obstacle Dillingham’s team will have to overcome.

“Not playing a game for 3 1/2 weeks is definitely a challenge,” Dillingham said. “Especially because we were playing our best football. … We really dominated the end of the season, in my opinion.”

Averaging 34.5 points per game, the Sun Devils’ offense is led by quarterback Sam Leavitt’s 2,663 passing yards and 29 total touchdowns, alongside running back Cam Skattebo’s 1,568 rushing yards and 19 scores.

An upstart Arizona State squad enters Wednesday’s game as nearly two-touchdown underdogs, much due to Texas’ stingy defense, which allows the second-fewest points per game in college football (13.3).

The Longhorns have slipped twice this season, to Georgia, first in a 30-15 home loss on Oct. 19, then in a 22-19 overtime defeat in the Southeastern Conference title game on Dec. 7.

Appearing in its second straight CFP, Texas pulled away from visiting Clemson in the opening round last Saturday to win 38-24. Now preparing for the Longhorns’ second all-time meeting with Arizona State (2007 Holiday Bowl), coach Steve Sarkisian doesn’t take December football for granted.

“To be a part of this game is a fantastic honor,” Sarkisian said. “We’re really proud of the fact that we’ve gotten to this point. We obviously have a ton of respect for Arizona State and the job coach Dillingham has done. They’re a very good football team. We know how hard it is to win the Big 12.”

Last time out, Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers threw for 202 yards, a touchdown and an interception, but the Longhorns shredded the Clemson defense with 292 rushing yards. Jaydon Blue ran for 146 yards and two touchdowns, paired with Quintrevion Wisner’s 110 yards and two scores.

“We needed to run the ball to beat Clemson, and we’re going to need to run the football to keep advancing in these playoffs,” Sarkisian said. “That’s what playoff football is about. … There’s a lot that goes into the run game. It takes all 11 to run the ball.”

–Field Level Media

Dec 7, 2024; Arlington, TX, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils running back Cam Skattebo (4) scores a rushing touchdown against the Iowa State Cyclones during the second half at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Meet the 12 CFP Title Contenders: No. 4 Arizona State

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4. Arizona State Sun Devils
11-2 (7-2 Big 12 regular season)

What’s next: First-round bye; vs. winner of No. 12 Clemson-No. 5 Texas at Peach Bowl, Jan. 1.

Head coach: Kenny Dillingham (Second season, 14-11 overall)

About Dillingham: A graduate of Arizona State and native Phoenician, Dillingham returned to Tempe in 2023 after five impressive seasons as an offensive coordinator, with stops at Memphis and Florida State alongside fellow former Sun Devils assistant Mike Norvell.

Resume
Highlighting a late-season push with six straight wins are Arizona State’s signature victories over fellow Top 25 teams Kansas State and BYU. The 24-14 and 28-23 wins followed a pattern of close calls through the Sun Devils’ season, with nine of their 12 regular-season games decided by 10 points or fewer — including the two losses at Texas Tech (30-22) and Cincinnati (24-14). They busted out of the trend of close calls with a dominant 45-19 shellacking of Iowa State in the Big 12 championship.

Postseason history
Arizona State’s last appearance in one of the postseason events that became part of the Bowl Championship Series and four-team Playoff era’s New Year’s Six predates either system. The 1996 Sun Devils came a possession away from a national championship with their Rose Bowl Game loss to Ohio State. This season’s Playoff is the closest Arizona State has come to returning to that high watermark since the 2013 team lost to Stanford in the Pac-12 championship game.

The road to Atlanta
Rest is the first order of business for Arizona State after a surprisingly lopsided win in the Big 12 title game. No. 5 Texas hosts Clemson on Dec. 21 and the winner meets the Sun Devils on Jan. 1 in Atlanta at the Peach Bowl.

Names to know
RB Cameron Skattebo
He shares a conference with the top Heisman Trophy contender (Colorado’s Travis Hunter) and a position with the other (Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty), or else Skattebo might be in the conversation himself.

His 172.8 all-purpose yards per game in the regular season were second-most in the nation. He is only 74 yards shy of tying the conference single-season rushing record after putting up 170 yards in the Big 12 title game, and his three TDs against Iowa State put him atop the single-season TD record list.

QB Sam Leavitt
Quietly among the most productive dual-threat quarterbacks in the nation, Leavitt heads into the postseason having completed 192 of 304 pass attempts for 2,663 yards and rushing for 383 yards. Leavitt has 24 passing touchdowns against only five interceptions and five rushing touchdowns, second on the team only to Skattebo’s 19.

“Sam’s competitive so if you tell him he’s tied for the first-best player in the country in something he’s going to get pissed off about,” Dillingham said to reporters this week. “Which is good.”

WR Xavier Guillory
Teammate Jordyn Tyson was having a Biletnikoff Award-caliber season for Arizona State, but the 6-foot-1 sophomore receiver sustained an unspecified arm injury in the regular-season finale vs. Arizona that required season-ending surgery. With Tyson’s 1,101 yards, 10 touchdowns worth of production out, Guillory looked the part of the primary pass-catching option against the Cyclones.

The fifth-year senior, who had 17 receptions and three touchdowns in the regular season, hauled in a bonkers TD catch against Iowa State that made the score 38-10.

NB Shamari Simmons
Simmons’ teammate in the Arizona State secondary, Xavion Alford, garnered First Team All-Big 12 honors. Alford’s presence at free safety has helped Simmons be aggressive at nickel back, manifesting in Simmons racking up seven tackles for loss and forcing three fumbles.

DT C.J. Fite
The Arizona State run defense has been excellent throughout the season, limiting opponents to 117.5 yards per game and 3.8 yards per carry in the regular season. Fite’s physicality on the interior sets the tone for the Sun Devils against the rush. The big man also provided one of the highlight moments of the season with his scoop-and-score touchdown in Week 2 against Mississippi State, going airborne to reach the pylon.

–Field Level Media

Nov 30, 2024; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils running back Cam Skattebo (4) against the Arizona Wildcats during the Territorial Cup at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Out-of-nowhere Arizona State, Iowa State fight for Big 12 title, playoff bid

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Picked to finish last in the 16-team Big 12, Arizona State jets to Texas one victory away from representing the conference in the 12-team College Football Playoff.

The No. 15 Sun Devils can take the final step when they face No. 16 Iowa State in the conference title game on Saturday at Arlington, Texas.

Arizona State (10-2) was a newcomer to the league and expected to be overmatched after going 3-9 in 2023. Instead, the Sun Devils storm into December as arguably the hottest team in the conference, winning five straight games to end the regular season.

“I think that’s the fun part is we’ve gotten here,” Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham said. “We’re in a position to compete and win a championship. Not many people can say that at this time of year. Only two teams in our league can say that they put themselves in a position to win a championship and that’s the significance.

“It’s about all the challenge is to get to this point that you’re one game away from accomplishing something that people said couldn’t be done. That’s significant.”

Iowa State (10-2) regained its footing after their prospects for reaching the playoff shifted from certain to dire. The first 10-win season in the 133-year history of the program carried the Cyclones to Texas after they received some help from the teams ahead in the standings to end November.

The Cyclones won their first seven games and were left reeling from consecutive losses to Texas Tech and Kansas that erased them from the CFP rankings entirely. Iowa State recovered with three straight victories.

The program last won a conference championship since 1912. Their only other conference title was claimed in 1911.

With BYU and Colorado dropped by late-season upsets, Iowa State, predicted to finish sixth in the Big 12, now needs one more win to find itself in the playoff.

“It has been a crazy journey to get to this moment,” Cyclones safety Beau Freyler said. “I couldn’t give more thanks and praise to my teammates and the coaching staff, and everyone who’s touched this program for all they’ve done to push us.”

Iowa State is powered by a standout passing attack. Rocco Becht has 3,021 yards passing to join Brock Purdy as the lone quarterbacks in school history to top 3,000 in a season on two occasions. Becht has 20 touchdowns against eight interceptions and rushed for seven scores in the regular season.

Arizona State will be concerned with covering Becht’s top targets.

Wide receivers Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel are the first duo in school history to top 1,000 receiving yards in the same season. Higgins has 80 catches for 1,068 yards and nine touchdowns; Noel has 67 receptions for 1,013 yards and six scores.

Cornerback Jontez Williams has four interceptions for a unit that has allowed 21 or more points on eight occasions.

But the Iowa State defense will face a huge challenge of its own.

Not many opponents were successful trying to corral Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo, the eighth-leading rusher in the FBS this season. He has 1,398 yards and 17 TDs on the ground along with 35 catches for 468 yards and two scores.

The biggest task can be figuring out how to bring down the hard-charging Skattebo.

“We know we can stop him,” Williams said. “We can make it happen. We just have to do our job and get 11 (players) to the ball.”

Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt has three touchdown passes in four of five games since returning from a rib injury. Overall, he has passed for 2,444 yards and 21 touchdowns against five interceptions.

However, the Sun Devils will be without star receiver Jordyn Tyson. He injured his left arm during Saturday’s 49-7 rout of Arizona. Dillingham said the player with 75 receptions for 1,101 yards and 10 TDs is out indefinitely.

Xavier Guillory is Arizona State’s second-most productive wideout with 291 receiving yards, but Leavitt maintains he’s not fretting over the loss of Tyson.

“I’m not worried one bit. We’re out here today, and everybody’s making plays left and right,” Leavitt said Tuesday of who will step up in the title gam. “So I just gotta put it up there and trust my guys and let them make some plays and show who they are.”

–Field Level Media

Nov 30, 2024; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils running back Cam Skattebo (4) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Arizona Wildcats in the first half during the Territorial Cup at Arizona Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

No. 16 Arizona State blows out rival Arizona with big offensive day

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Cam Skattebo rushed for 177 yards on 21 carries with three touchdowns to lead No. 16 Arizona State to a 49-7 victory Saturday over archrival Arizona in Tucson, Ariz.

Arizona State (10-2, 7-2 Big 12) has put itself in potential position to play in the conference championship game with the victory, the Sun Devils’ first win against Arizona since 2021.

Arizona (4-8, 2-7) ended coach Brent Brennan’s first season losing seven of its last eight games.

The Wildcats allowed Arizona State 643 yards in total offense while they mustered 210.

Skattebo had 113 of his yards and his three touchdowns in the first half when Arizona State led 35-0.

Kyson Brown rushed eight times for 100 yards.

Sam Leavitt completed 17 of 22 pass attempts for 291 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions.

Backup Trenton Bourguet, a Tucson native, completed 2 of 3 passes for 71 yards and a touchdown in his return home.

Arizona receiver Tetairoa McMillan, a projected NFL first-round draft pick, likely played his last game in college.

He finished with six receptions for 68 yards and a touchdown.

Noah Fifita, a preseason Heisman hopeful, completed 14 of 29 pass attempts for 126 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions.

Arizona State scored a touchdown on its first four possessions to take control, leading 28-0 with 6:28 left in the second quarter.

Skattebo scored three of those touchdowns and Leavitt connected on a 13-yard touchdown pass with Jordyn Tyson for the other score.

Arizona State extended the lead to 35-0 with 41 seconds left in the half on a 22-yard pass from Leavitt to Chamon Metayer.

Arizona scored its lone touchdown taking the first possession of the second half 75 yards on eight plays, capped by Fifita’s 28-yard pass to McMillan.

The Wildcats had a chance to cut into the lead more after Arizona State’s Parker Lewis missed a 21-yard field goal.

Arizona was forced to punt on its next possession.

Arizona State extended the lead to 42-7 with 14:55 left on a 31-yard pass from Leavitt to Xavier Guillory. Bourguet had the final score, a 64-yard scoring toss to Derek Eusebio.

–Field Level Media

Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo (4) runs into the endzone for a touchdown against BYU during the first half at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe on Nov. 23, 2024.

No. 16 Arizona State continues playoff push vs. underwhelming Arizona

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Arizona State was projected to have a rough first season in the Big 12, while Arizona was expected to be one of the conference’s top teams upon joining the league.

However, the opposite has played out as the No. 16 Sun Devils get set to square off with the host Wildcats for Saturday’s Territorial Cup clash in Tucson, Ariz.

Arizona was coming off a 10-3 season in which it beat Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl, and new coach Brent Brennan and his staff managed to keep many of the top players — including quarterback Noah Fifita and All-American receiver Tetairoa McMillan — despite the departure of coach Jedd Fisch to Washington.

Meanwhile, Arizona State went 3-9 last season in Kenny Dillingham’s first year as a head coach. The Sun Devils were picked to finish last in the Big 12 media preseason rankings but have emerged as a playoff contender.

Dillingham’s team moved up five spots in the latest College Football Playoff rankings after last week’s 28-23 win over then-No. 14 BYU at Tempe, Ariz.

Arizona State (9-2, 6-2) is in position to play in the conference championship game next week, but the tiebreaking scenarios are complex with the Sun Devils atop the league standings with Colorado, Iowa State and BYU.

Arizona (4-7, 2-6) is not bowl eligible amid a social media outcry of removing Brennan as head coach despite this being only his first year.

Brennan was asked at his weekly press conference if the Wildcats are motivated to potentially spoil Arizona State’s attempt to play in the Big 12 championship game and then possibly the CFP.

“Not really,” Brennan said. “I think it’s more about the fact that we’re playing ASU and what this game means to everybody here.”

Dillingham and Brennan experienced the rivalry from a young age.

The former was raised in the Phoenix area and grew up an Arizona State fan before earning a degree at the school in 2012. Brennan was an avid Arizona supporter in the late 1990s when his brother Brad played against the Sun Devils as a receiver. Brent Brennan, who played at UCLA, is married to an Arizona graduate.

“The mindset is this is the biggest game of the year, every year, and that doesn’t change,” Brennan said. “For us, whether we’re bowl eligible or not, all that matters is we’re playing the team from up north.”

Dillingham must guard against his team feeling the pressure to advance to the Big 12 championship game, while Arizona is playing with nothing to lose.

Cam Skattebo, one of the nation’s top running backs, said the Sun Devils will be ready because of the “brotherhood” they have built under Dillingham.

“The culture has changed man and everybody loves each other,” Skattebo said. “We’ve turned this thing around. But it’s not finished yet because there’s still a process. There is still work to do in the process.”

Skattebo will go against an Arizona defense depleted by injuries. Three of its best players — linebacker Jacob Manu and safeties Treydan Stukes and Gunner Maldonado — have been out most of the season with leg injuries.

Skattebo has gained 1,221 yards on 226 carries with 14 touchdowns.

Fifita and McMillan will test an Arizona State secondary that is 83th nationally, allowing 228.4 passing yards a game.

McMillan became Arizona’s career receiving yards leader with his 115-yard performance last week at TCU.

He has 3,355 career receiving yards, passing his current position coach, Bobby Wade (3,351 yards, 1999-02).

–Field Level Media

Nov 23, 2024; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils fans celebrate on the field in the closing second of the game against the Brigham Young Cougars at Mountain America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Arizona State fined $25K after storming snafu vs. BYU

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The Big 12 Conference fined Arizona State $25,000 on Tuesday in response to fans storming the field during the final moments of Saturday’s 28-23 win over BYU.

The league also issued a public reprimand to the school for the chaotic ending in Tempe, Ariz. Fans streamed onto the field thinking the game was over and tore down a goalpost, but there was time remaining and a lengthy delay ensued to sort things out.

“The safety of student-athletes and all game participants is our foremost priority,” said Brett Yormark, the Big 12 commissioner. “We will continue to work with our institutions on event management policies at all Big 12 venues.”

After rallying from a 28-9 deficit to Arizona State (9-2, 6-2), BYU (9-2, 6-2) took possession near midfield with one second left on the clock after order was restored. A final Hail Mary pass by Jake Retzlaff fell incomplete.

–Field Level Media

Arizona State offensive lineman Max Iheanachor (58) lifts Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo (4) after a touchdown against BYU during the first half at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe on Nov. 23, 2024.

No. 21 Arizona State survives wild finish to down No. 14 BYU

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Arizona State cornerback Javan Robinson intercepted a pass from BYU’s Jake Retzlaff to thwart the No. 14 Cougars’ threat with 1:04 left in a 28-23 victory for the 21st-ranked Sun Devils Saturday at Tempe, Ariz.

Robinson made the interception on a second-and-10 play at the Arizona State 39, returning the interception all the way to the BYU 7.

The Cougars used their two timeouts and Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt tried to burn time by running backward on a couple of plays to the BYU 39.

Two delay-of-game penalties put the ball at the BYU 49 with 7 seconds left.

Leavitt tried to burn those seconds by dropping back and throwing the ball high into the air. The ball dropped out of bounds with 1 second left.

A throng of fans rushed the field thinking that Arizona State won. The game was delayed at least 20 minutes for the last play of the game to be played.

Retzlaff’s hail mary pass fell incomplete short of the end zone on the last play.

Arizona State (9-2, 6-2) now holds the head-to-head tiebreaker over BYU (9-2, 6-2) in the Big 12 standings with each having one game remaining.

Cam Skattebo rushed for 147 yards on 28 carries with three touchdowns for Arizona State.

Sam Leavitt completed 16 of 25 pass attempts for 247 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

Retzlaff passed for 297 yards while completing 22 of 38 pass attempts with a touchdown and two interceptions.

BYU scored touchdowns on its three first possessions of the second half to cut into a 21-3 halftime lead for Arizona State.

Keelan Marion’s 10-yard run with 2:49 left in the third quarter cut the lead to 21-9. A 2-point conversion run by LJ Martin was stopped short.

Arizona State responded with a 61-yard touchdown pass from Leavitt to Xavier Guillory to increase the lead to 28-9 with 2:06 remaining in the third quarter.

The Cougars scored on a 21-yard pass connection between Retzlaff and JoJo Phillips with 43 seconds left in the third quarter. Retzlaff completed a 2-point conversion pass to cut the lead to 28-17.

After forcing Arizona State to punt, BYU put together an 88-yard scoring drive that was culminated by a 1-yard touchdown run by Marion. The 2-point conversion pass attempt by Retzlaff was incomplete.

Arizona State was stopped on downs on its next possession at the BYU 11.

–Field Level Media

Nov 16, 2024; Provo, Utah, USA; The Brigham Young Cougars Cougarettes perform before the fourth quarter of the game against the Kansas Jayhawks at LaVell Edwards Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images

No. 14 BYU must ‘refocus’ for trip to No. 21 Arizona State

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BYU coach Kalani Sitake said the 14th-ranked Cougars “just gotta refocus” after dropping eight spots in the College Football Playoff rankings coming off their first loss of the season.

The Cougars (9-1, 6-1 Big 12) will try to rebound from a 17-13 setback at home against Kansas when they visit No. 21 Arizona State (8-2, 5-2) on Saturday in Tempe, Ariz.

“I am excited to see these guys play after this,” Sitake said Monday. “We have faced some adversity. We have faced a loss. Now we are able to learn from it. Let’s see what type of team comes out. This is a good moment for our identity to show.”

Arizona State won at then-No. 16 Kansas State 24-14 last week to earn its third straight victory and fifth in the last six games.

The game between the Cougars and Sun Devils is potentially for a spot in the Big 12 championship game with two weeks remaining in the regular season.

Colorado (8-2, 6-1) and Iowa State (8-2, 5-2) also are in the race among conference teams with two or fewer losses.

BYU was picked to finish 13th and Arizona State 16th (last) in the Big 12 in a preseason media poll.

“I feel a slight connection to them, because nobody cared about (either of) us before the season,” Sitake said. “To have this game be something with a lot of meaning is really cool at this point.”

Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham believes the game is significant enough that he urged fans not to sell tickets to BYU supporters.

The Phoenix area, especially in the East Valley, has a large population of Mormons who are BYU fans.

“Have them show you an ASU hat or shirt or something,” Dillingham said to Arizona State fans during his weekly press conference.

Sitake called Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo one of the best in the nation at his position. He also said that BYU tried to lure Sun Devils quarterback Sam Leavitt after he left Michigan State and entered the transfer portal.

Leavitt’s father, Jared, was a linebacker at BYU in the 1990s.

“He comes from a good family and he’s super athletic,” Sitake said. “He can run and has an accurate arm. I think he’s got a great fit, football IQ, and he’s so dangerous.”

Skattebo has rushed for 1,074 yards on 198 carries with 11 touchdowns. He also has 31 receptions for 448 yards with two scores.

Leavitt has thrown for 1,906 yards with 17 touchdowns and four interceptions. He has also rushed for 348 yards and four TDs.

BYU lacked in red-zone production against Kansas, scoring only six points without a touchdown in four trips there against Kansas.

The Cougars’ only score in the second half was a 35-yard field goal by Will Ferrin.

Their lone touchdown was a 30-yard pass from Jake Retzlaff to Hinckley Ropati in the second quarter.

Retzlaff has passed for 2,283 yards with 19 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He has rushed for an additional 312 yards with four scores.

–Field Level Media