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Big 12 championship game capsule: Arizona State vs. Iowa State

A C Gazette
By A C Gazette
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NCAA Football: Arizona State at ArizonaNov 30, 2024; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils running back Cam Skattebo (4) celebrates with quarterback Sam Leavitt (10) 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
Big 12 championship game

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

Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024, at Noon ET

Arlington, Texas, AT&T Stadium

TV: ABC

Early line: Arizona State -1.5 (FanDuel)

What’s at stake:

Where Arizona State is in the standings on Tuesday will determine if the Sun Devils are facing a must-win situation as the Big 12 very well could be a one-bid league. Arizona State has been a scorching-hot team down the stretch and probably doesn’t want to leave its fate to the committee in hopes of getting an at-large bid.

Iowa State has recorded the first 10-win season in school history and didn’t secure its spot until BYU defeated Houston late Saturday night in Provo, Utah. The Cyclones badly want to win this game to ensure they are part of the field as they clearly will get passed over if they are a three-loss squad.

How they got here:

Big 12 newcomer Arizona State was picked to finish last in the 16-team league, proving that those involved in the balloting aren’t a group of geniuses. The Sun Devils lost to Texas Tech in Week 4 and their only other setback (to Cincinnati) came when quarterback Sam Leavitt (rib) was sidelined. Arizona State roared to the finish with five straight wins, including a 49-7 road trampling over Arizona on Saturday.

Iowa State beat rival Iowa on Sept. 7 and shut out Houston three weeks later as part of a 7-0 start. But consecutive losses to Texas Tech and Kansas knocked the Cyclones out of the CFP Top 25, making a berth feel like a long shot. Yet Iowa State recovered with three straight victories, including a must-win affair with Kansas State on Saturday before receiving the help it needed from BYU to gain the conference title game berth over Colorado.

Names to know:

–Arizona State

QB Sam Leavitt

Has put together a surprisingly good season with 2,444 yards and 21 touchdowns against five interceptions. He has three passing scores in four of his five games since returning from the injury.

RB Cam Skattebo

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

WR Jordyn Tyson

Collected 75 receptions for 1,101 yards and 10 scores, accumulating 444 of the yards over the past three games.

–Iowa State

QB Rocco Becht

Has 20 touchdowns against eight interceptions while throwing for 3,021 yards, joining Brock Purdy — the former Mr. Irrelevant — as the lone 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) are the first duo to top 1,000 receiving yards in the same season in school history.

CB Jontez Williams

Those four interceptions lead a unit that allowed 21 or fewer points on eight occasions.

Xs and Os:

Arizona State has taken to smashing the not-any-good label and has been the best team in the Big 12 in November. Second-year coach Kenny Dillingham had just three wins in his first season and now has the Sun Devils being that team others don’t want to face.

Iowa State had won nine games in a season on just three occasions prior to this season but now has a chance to win 11 or more this season. The Cyclones won’t scare anyone on the overall talent spectrum but the late-season exploits point to a team that is about to play itself into the playoffs.

Prediction:

Iowa State 19, Arizona State 17

–Field Level Media

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