Picked last for Big 12 debut, ASU shouldn’t be insulted; maybe it’s a blessing in disguise
BY MICHELLE GARDNER • JULY 3, 2024
THE BIG 12 PRESEASON FOOTball poll came out with Arizona State pegged last, 16th.
That shouldn’t be much of a surprise. The Sun Devils were coming off back-to-back 3-9 seasons — although there had been some renewed optimism in Tempe heading into coach Kenny Dillingham’s second year and recruiting had been trending upward.
Ask the energetic coach what he thought of that prognostication and you’d probably get something like:
“You think I really care what anyone outside of this program thinks of us? I couldn’t care less. All I worry about is are we working hard enough and getting better every single day. Anything else would be counterproductive. You can’t waste your time and energy on negativity.”
Maybe that prediction will be a blessing in disguise for the Sun Devils. You know, good bulletin board material. Incentive. “We’ll show them.”
The poll was by sportswriters who
Those reporters also probably are not aware of the injuries that factored into that record — 31 players missing a total of 143 games — and a quarterback position that needed help from a tight
“They are improved on both sides of the ball but … had a lot of ground to make up.”
PHIL STEELE
cover the Big 12. What did they know, especially given that ASU was new to the conference?
It’s a good bet the majority of those voting did not see one minute of an ASU game last year. Most of those schools are one or more time zones away — and the Sun Devils weren’t exactly must-see TV.
end and a running back.
That poll wasn’t the only one pushing the low expectations.
The most noted authority on college football, Phil Steele, had ASU 15th in his 352-page preseason outlook with the Sun Devils ahead of only Houston.
Lindy’s slotted ASU 15th, ahead of only Cincinnati and just
behind Houston.
Athlon put ASU 13th, ahead of Brigham Young, Cincinnati and Houston.
The Sun Devils easily could have been .500 in 2023 and, if that were the case, the whole narrative would have been different. There were three games that should have gone the other way: California, Colorado and Washington.
Anybody who paid any attention to spring football could see that the team was deeper at every position, the only exception being tight end, where a couple of Division I transfers must be relied upon.
Despite the defection of Elijhah Badger, the wide receiving core looks solid, led by sophomore Jordyn Tyson. He was one of those who missed most
OPPOSITE: The Sun Devils go through their paces at Camp Tontozona in Payson, Arizona. Their five-day August stay, which included a Saturday scrimmage open to the public, involved eight months of planning and 220 workers on site, according to Bryan McGinnis, assistant athletic director for football. ROB SCHUMACHER / THE REPUBLIC
Leavitt-to-Tyson with 16 seconds left caps off ASU’s third rally in the final quarter
BY MICHELLE GARDNER • OCT. 5, 2024
IT WAS UNLIKE ANY GAME
Arizona State had played this season. It featured two ties and six lead changes with the last coming when Sam Leavitt threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Jordyn Tyson with 16 seconds left.
Before a sellout crowd at Mountain America Stadium, the Sun Devils won a Big 12 game for the first time, 3531 over Kansas. To do so, they scored touchdowns on all three of their fourth-quarter possessions, each time
wiping out a three-point Kansas lead.
The thrilling victory gave ASU (4-1, 1-1) more W’s than it managed in either of the previous two seasons. And with seven games left, qualifying for a bowl for the first time since 2021 appeared to a legitimate possibility.
The Sun Devils gladly added to an unexpectedly frustrating season for the Jayhawks (1-5, 0-3), who were ranked in the preseason polls but had lost five straight games by a combined
27 points. Four of the five had been decided by six points or fewer.
Kansas also had a knack for giving up points at the end of halves. Besides Tyson’s game-winning touchdown, the Jayhawks gave up a 20-yard touchdown catch by Chamon Metayer with 26 seconds in the first half. That capped a four-play, 58-yard drive that took only 52 seconds and tied it at 14-all.
The Sun Devils, although it’s still
early, were 3-1 in one-score games — after going 1-3 in 2023.
What went right Two-minute hero: Coach Kenny Dillingham reminded the media that Leavitt was making only his fifth start and how he won the game told plenty about his poise and makeup. Starting at the ASU 25 with 2:04 left in the game, Leavitt covered 75 yards in eight plays in 108 seconds. ASU used the clock, its
OPPOSITE: Cam Skattebo (4) and his teammates are ecstatic after a wild fourth quarter at Mountain America Stadium in which Kansas scored two touchdowns (with 10:41 and 2:04 left) and Arizona State scored three TDs (with 14:56, 6:19 and 16 seconds left). JOE RONDONE / THE REPUBLIC
RIGHT: A Sun Devils cheerleader goes airborne during ASU’s victory over UCF. JOE CAMPOREALE / IMAGN IMAGES
FAR RIGHT: Emerging star receiver Jordyn Tyson grabs the eventual game-winner, a 13-yard TD catch with 4:55 remaining in the fourth quarter against UCF.
JOE CAMPOREALE / IMAGN IMAGES
OPPOSITE: Teammates celebrate a second-half touchdown with ASU’s Jordyn Tyson (0). He scored on a 9-yard catch in the third quarter and on a 13-yard catch in the fourth quarter. He finished with seven catches for 99 yards.
JOE CAMPOREALE / IMAGN IMAGES
Report card
Offense D+ ASU managed only 260 yards despite averaging more than 400. It got 161 through the air, as Leavitt went 16-for-25, and just 99 on the ground, as Skattebo only could watch. ASU converted 6 of 12 third downs but went 0-for-2 on fourth down. Time of possession favored the visitors slightly, 31:20 to 28:40, a category ASU usually held the edge. Sophomore Kyson Brown made his first start in place of Skattebo and played well, rushing for 73 yards on 18 carriers and catching three passes for 21 yards. The star performer, though, was Tyson, who had seven catches for 99 yards and two touchdowns.
Defense C+ The Sun Devils gave up 406 yards, 177 on the ground and 229 through the air. UCF, which boasted the country’s 10th-ranked offense (471 yards a game), converted 6 of 13 third downs and 2 of 3 fourth downs. Senior Caleb McCullough started in Elliott’s spot and recorded eight tackles and a pass breakup. Jordan Crook and Xavion Alford each had nine tackles. Alford and Myles Rowser, who had eight tackles, made the big stop on UCF’s final fourth down. C.J. Fite, Prince Dorbah and Jacob Kongaika each had sacks.
Special teams B For a change, this wasn’t ASU’s lowest-graded unit. ASU never attempted a field goal, but Parker Lewis made all five of his PATs, four of his six kickoffs were touchbacks or fair catches and a fifth was returned 4 yards. His other kick, following ASU’s second TD late in the first half, nearly was a safety after it was botched in the end zone; on the next play, Welch recorded his pick six. In nine seconds, ASU went from 10 points down (17-7) to four points up (21-17). Jake Smith had two kickoff returns for 45 yards. Kanyon Floyd averaged 40.2 yards on four punts, none of which were downed inside the 20.
Report card
Offense B The Sun Devils racked up 398 yards, nearly right on their average of 399.6. Of that total, 275 came through the air and 123 came on the ground against a foe that had been giving up only 99.4 rushing yards. Leavitt went 21 of 34 passing for 275 yards and three touchdowns —his third straight game with three TD passes and no interceptions. Tyson caught 12 passes for 176 yards, each a career high. ASU dominated time of possession 36:36 to 23:24.
Defense B Kansas State’s 412 yards were a little deceiving because 302 of them came after Tyson’s fumble as the Wildcats frantically tried to overcome a 24-point deficit. Their quarterback, Avery Johnson, heaved the ball 40 times (completing 24) for 258 yards, no TDs and two picks. Linebacker Jordan Crook led ASU with nine tackles. No one sacked Johnson.
Special teams B Parker Lewis kicked a 47-yard field goal in the third quarter, ASU’s first since Sept. 21 against Texas Tech. Kanyon Floyd averaged 41.5 on four punts with two downed inside the 20. It was a rare occasion where the ASU unit fared better than its opponent’s; Kansas State botched a field-goal attempt late in the first half and missed one late in the game.
Skat Facts
HOW SENIOR RUNNING BACK CAM SKATTEBO FARED
Listed as doubtful early in the week, he returned from a shoulder injury after missing the Central Florida game.
He rushed for 73 yards on 25 carries — 2.9 yards a pop. His longest run was 11 yards.
He gained 44 yards with four catches, three of which produced first downs. His long was 16 yards.
He did not reach the end zone for only the second game. The other game was Sept. 7 against Mississippi State.
Season totals: 198 carries, 1,074 yards, 5.4 a carry, 11 TDs; 31 catches, 448 yards, 14.5 a catch, 2 TDs; 1,522 all-purpose yards.
This and That
Personnel news: Wide receiver Jake Smith did not make the trip because of a hamstring injury, and Melquan Stovall handled his return duties. He had 8 yards on a punt return. Emmit Bohle started at right guard for the first time in place of Kyle Scott.
Social media brouhaha: Sun Devils fans and Wildcats fans expressed their outrage over dismissive comments from analyst Desmond Howard on ESPN’s “College GameDay.” During the picks segment of the show, Rece Davis tossed it to Howard, the Heisman Trophy winner at Michigan in 1991, for his thoughts on the game at Manhattan, to be shown on ESPN. “I saw that on the rundown, I was like, ‘Why are we picking this game?’” Howard replied. “I thought it was a mistake. … Kansas State, I guess. Let’s go, Kansas State.”
On deck: The Arizona Republic reported that ticket prices on the secondary market for the BYU game were skyrocketing, a bottom of $358 for the upper level and a top of nearly $800 for the lower level. BYU’s first loss dropped the Cougars (9-1, 6-1) from sixth to 14th in the College Football Playoff rankings. The Sun Devils finally cracked the polls: No. 21 with the CFP, No. 21 with the media and No. 22 with the coaches.
Overheard
“Jordyn Tyson is the best wide receiver that I’ve seen.”
Jordyn Tyson spent his night catching passes and breaking away from would-be Kansas State tacklers. Tyson set career highs with 12 catches and 176 receiving yards.
IMAGES
KANSAS STATE COACH CHRIS KLIEMAN
LEFT AND ABOVE: Wide receiver
SCOTT SEWELL / IMAGN
RIGHT: Cam Skattebo runs for one of his three first-half touchdowns as Arizona State built a 21-0 lead over BYU. Skattebo’s TDs in order: A 3-yarder with 6:41 left in the first quarter, a 4-yarder with 4:29 left in the second quarter and a 23-yarder with 1:53 left in the second quarter.
MARK J. REBILAS / IMAGN IMAGES
OPPOSITE: Cam Skattebo celebrates after scoring a touchdown during his 147-yard rushing performance at Mountain America Stadium.
The 40-second play clock reset with 47 seconds left in the game.
ASU let the play clock run out for a delay of game penalty. Seven seconds remained with the ball at the BYU 44. Another delay of game put the ball at the BYU 49.
On fourth-and-goal from the 49, Leavitt took a shotgun snap, dropped back to the ASU 41 and launched a high-arcing pass as three Cougars converged on him. The heave landed several rows deep in the
stands to his right, roughly across from the BYU 20.
Fans not only stormed the field, but they also immediately tore down one of the goalposts. Amid the sea of humanity, though, the referee set up shop by a replay monitor to determine whether the ball touched down before the clock hit 0:00.
Dillingham argued with the officials.
The referee decreed that one second remained in the game, time for BYU to
try a Hail Mary from midfield. But first the field had to cleared.
After a 14-minute delay, Retzlaff dodged the rush and fired with all his might. BYU’s Chase Roberts waited at the goal line. He did make the catch but at the ASU 3, only to be pounced upon by Elliott Keyshaun and Robinson.
And the second storming started.
“You know what?” Dillingham said. “We got to rush the field twice. How about
MARK J. REBILAS / IMAGN IMAGES
that? We rushed the field three times this year. That’s pretty cool. Not many people get the opportunity to do that.”
What went right
Taking charge early: The Sun Devils could not have played a better first half, which ended 21-3 thanks to three touchdowns by Skattebo. His first TD capped a 10-play, 54-yard drive in which he rushed seven times for 44 yards. His second TD
Skat Facts
HOW SENIOR RUNNING BACK CAM SKATTEBO FARED
He became the country’s only player with 1,000 rushing yards and 450 receiving yards and closed within 421 yards of Eno Benjamin’s school rushing record of 1,642 set in 2018.
He rushed for 147 yards on 28 carries — 5.3 yards a pop — and scored the game’s first three
was set by a 54-yard completion from Leavitt to Jordyn Tyson. After nailing the PAT, Parker Lewis executed a perfect onside kick that led to Skattebo’s third TD six plays later. Skattebo scored on a 23-yard scamper, kept running through the end zone and stopped to sign a football. That earned an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. At the half, the Sun Devils had comfortable edges in all statistical categories, and they were to
touchdowns on runs of 3, 4 and 23 yards.
He gained 12 yards with three catches.
He admitted the error of his ways when he signed a football for a fan after his third TD, drawing an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty that helped BYU kick a late field goal before halftime. “That’s actually one of my boys,” he said. “The touchdown before, he held the ball out with a Sharpie. I talked to my team, my linemen, I was like, ‘Next touchdown, I’m going to go try (to) sign, so get behind me so the refs don’t see it.’”
Season totals: 226 carries, 1,221 yards, 5.4 a carry, 14 TDs; 34 catches, 460 yards, 13.5 a catch, 2 TDs; 1,681 allpurpose yards.
receive the ball to start the third quarter, so all seemed to be going well.
The stars played like stars: When it’s a big game you want your star players to play like ... stars. And they did. Skattebo had 147 rushing yards, marking his fifth game of 125 yards or more. Tyson caught nine passes for 125 yards. Leavitt threw for 247 yards. Because the BYU defense focused on Tyson, that left room for other players, most evident with a blown
Overheard
“We continue to keep working and proving the haters wrong. I have a tattoo right here that says a diamond in the rough. That describes the team, just a diamond in the rough. We just keep working, and pressure builds diamonds.”
This and That
Personnel news: Wide receiver and return man Jake Smith missed his second straight game with a balky hamstring. … Among those honored on senior day: Guillory, McCullough, Simmons, Skattebo, Smith, OT Emmit Bohle, QB Trenton Bourguet, OL Cade Briggs, RB DeCarlos Brooks, DL Jeff Clark, C Leif Fautanu, P Race Mahlum, DE Elijah O’Neal and WR/KR Melquan Stovall.
On deck: More than the Territorial Cup would be on the line when ASU traveled south to play Arizona (4-7, 2-6) in the regular-season finale. Besides bragging rights, the Sun Devils still had a shot at a berth in the Big 12 title game. The Wildcats’ most recent loss came to Texas Christian 49-28.
The aftermath
The standings: Kansas helped the Sun Devils for a third straight week, knocking off Colorado 37-21. That left ASU, BYU, Iowa State and Colorado tied atop the Big 12 with 6-2 records. The standings were so convoluted that nine teams could finish with 6-3 records and an eightway tie for first was possible. The Big 12 figured there were 256 possible scenarios. The Sun Devils weren’t assured a berth in the title game with a victory over Arizona, but more scenarios were in their favor than not.
The rankings: The Sun Devils were the highest-ranked Big 12 team across the board: No. 16 by the College Football Playoff committee, No. 15 by the coaches and No. 14 by the media.
The punishment: The Big 12 fined ASU $25,000 because fans stormed the field. That prompted athletic director Graham Rossini to say on Arizona Sports’ “Bickley and Marotta Show:” “It’s a call to action for any Sun Devil who was on the field, you got a responsibility to your university, get on SunAngels.org, give to our collective and let’s use that as a positive.”
The coach: At his Monday news conference, Dillingham repeatedly criticized himself for ASU’s strategy on its final possession. “It’s my job as a football coach to know what is best for our football team,” he said, “and what was best for our football team was to not do what I did.”
OPPOSITE: And later Sparky didn’t hesitate to mix with the masses on the field at Mountain America Stadium. MARK J. REBILAS / IMAGN IMAGES
WIDE RECEIVER JORDYN TYSON
ABOVE RIGHT: Arizona State mascot Sparky enjoys the Sun Devils’ game with the BYU Cougars. MARK J. REBILAS / IMAGN IMAGES
SAM LEAVITT, QUARTERBACK
A friend to O-line, a role model for kids, freshman QB no longer a secret weapon
BY GREG MOORE • DEC. 24, 2024
SAM LEAVITT IS SIGNING AUTOgraphs for little kids after practice these days.
If there’s a better example of how far Arizona State has come as the Cinderfella story of the 2024 college football season, I can’t find it.
and an example to these young kids to show them that hard work gets you where you want to be.”
“I remember back in second grade,” Leavitt said, laughing. “I’d sign little pieces of paper and put a little note,
deal for eight of his offensive linemen, including Fautanu.
“That’s my favorite thing. ... Just being a role model and an example to these young kids to show them that hard work gets you where you want to be. ”
Leavitt is a redshirt freshman quarterback who transferred from Michigan State playing for a team that had just six victories in the previous two years combined and was picked to finish dead last in the nation’s most disrespected conference, the Big 12. Now, he has a spot in the College Football Playoff, and everybody wants a piece of the guy’s time, starting with middle-schoolers wearing Sun Devils jerseys.
“That’s my favorite thing, you know?” Leavitt said. “Just being a role model
SAM LEAVITT
‘My mom has one’ Hard work had Leavitt’s team with an 11-2 record and a Big 12 championship entering the College Football Playoff. Leavitt earned Big 12 freshman of the year recognition and a spot on an ESPN watch list for next season’s Heisman contenders.
He might have started off as a secret weapon, but he’s not anymore.
It seems like Leavitt is the only one who isn’t surprised.
saying, ‘Y’all can sell this later.’ … I’ll bet you my mom has one.”
It’s Sam being Sam, and everybody loves him for it.
“This guy actually cares about us and cares about the team,” center Leif Fautanu said.
Leavitt has made sure that profits from his jersey sales go into ASU’s NIL collective to benefit his more unsung teammates, and he recently reached out to the fast-food chain Arby’s to land a
“It’s awesome,” Fautanu said. “Sam set that up for us perfectly. It’s awesome to see a quarterback who cares about his offensive linemen. It’s pretty common to see in the NFL. … And it’s awesome to see that our redshirt freshman quarterback takes a lot of pride in his offensive line.”
They like him because he’s one of them — in spirit if not stature. The ASU O-line prides itself on physicality, a quality they see in Leavitt.
“He’s super physical,” Fautanu said. During scrimmage periods, the quarterback is off limits. So, sacks are “called” rather than acquired. Leavitt always protests.
“He’s like, ‘Hell, no! I’m running through that!’” Fautanu said.
OPPOSITE: Quarterback Sam Leavitt, who burst onto the ASU scene as a redshirt freshman after transferring from Michigan State, celebrates a touchdown during the Territorial Cup at Arizona Stadium. MARK J. REBILAS / IMAGN IMAGES
ABOVE: Arizona State workhorse Cam Skattebo uses a well-placed stiff-arm to fend off Iowa State defenders. Skattebo gained 170 yards rushing, scoring two touchdowns, and caught a 33-yard TD pass from Sam Leavitt to push ASU’s lead to 45-10. JEROME MIRON / IMAGN IMAGES
OPPOSITE: Sun Devils quarterback Sam Leavitt relishes his 3-yard, first-quarter touchdown run against the Cyclones. It gave Arizona State its second lead of the game at 10-7. KEVIN JAIRAJ / IMAGN IMAGES
Overheard
“He’s a little bit of a spaz, you know, but he’s just talking over scheme and telling me what he sees on the field and exactly what he’s thinking. Talk about a super cerebral player. He’s one of the best that I’ve played with, if not the best.”
QUARTERBACK SAM LEAVITT ON CAM SKATTEBO
This and That
OPPOSITE LEFT: Arizona State defensive back Keith Abney II displays his prize after picking off a Rocco Becht pass at the ISU 34 and returning it 8 yards in the third quarter. JEROME MIRON / IMAGN IMAGES
OPPOSITE RIGHT: Cam Skattebo (4), offensive lineman Leif Fautanu (79) and quarterback Sam Leavitt (10) celebrate a Skattebo rushing touchdown. He ran for two TDs and caught a pass for a TD.
JEROME MIRON / IMAGN IMAGES
LEFT: ASU defensive linemen Anthonie Cooper (96) and Justin Wodtly (95) show their excitement after a Wodtly fumble recovery during the second half.
JEROME MIRON / IMAGN IMAGES
Personnel news: The most notable change came at place-kicker: Kieffer took over for Parker Lewis and kicked his field goal on ASU’s first possession. Ian Hershey handled kickoff duties in place of Lewis. … With Tyson out, Troy Omeire started but did not have a reception. … Freshman Kyan McDonald replaced Simmons after his ejection. … Because the game did not count against a player’s redshirt status, Malik McClain saw some action and made a 43-yard catch.
On deck: The Sun Devils would have wait until the next morning to learn the CFP pairings.
The rankings: ASU continued to move up in the final rankings before the playoff games and bowls. The Sun Devils were No. 12 by the CFP committee (up three spots), No. 10 by the coaches (up three spots) and No. 10 by the media (up two spots).
Skat Facts
HOW SENIOR RUNNING BACK CAM SKATTEBO FARED
He was voted the offensive MVP of the Peach Bowl, the first player from a losing team so honored in 26 years.
He accounted for three touchdowns — two on the ground, one throwing — for the fourth straight game and fifth time in six games. He also ran in a 2-point conversion.
He rushed for 143 yards on 30 carries — 4.8 yards a pop — scored on runs of 2 and 3 yards, and
broke off a 33-yard run in the third quarter.
He gained 99 yards on eight catches, including a 62-yarder in the fourth quarter.
He took a pitchout on a fourthand-2 in the fourth quarter and threw a 42-yard TD pass.
He broke Eno Benjamin’s 2018 record of 1,642 rushing yards (with 1,711), Wilford White’s 1950 record of 22 touchdowns (with 24) and Woody Green’s 1972 record of 19 rushing touchdowns (with 21).
His 284 total yards equaled or exceeded the total yards gained by 11 of Texas’ 14 opponents.
Season totals: 293 carries, 1,711 yards, 5.8 a carry, 21 TDs; 45 catches, 605 yards, 13.4 a catch, 3 TDs; 1-for-2 passing, 42 yards, 1 TD; 2,358 all-purpose yards.
Overheard
“Now if the Arizona Cardinals can just draft Cam so we can keep him home. That would be awesome.”
This and That
Personnel news: Redshirt freshman Montana Warren started for Simmons and made one tackle. Simmons had three tackles (two for a loss), a forced fumble and a pass breakup. … Troy Omeire started in Tyson’s place and had two catches for 40 yards against his former school.
Stats ’n stuff: The Sun Devils did not punt on their opening drive all season. They had eight touchdowns, three field goals, two interceptions and a failed fourth down. … In Skattebo’s 100-yard rushing games as a Sun Devil — 11 in two seasons — five came against Top 25 teams. … Floyd became the first Big 12 player to complete a pass in a bowl.
OPPOSITE TOP: On Cam Skattebo’s 62-yard reception to set up the game-tying touchdown in the fourth quarterback, Texas defensive back Michael Taaffe committed two penalties. The pass interference one was declined. The face-mask penalty was enforced half the distance to the goal. MICHAEL CHOW / THE REPUBLIC
OPPOSITE BOTTOM: Michael Taaffe did not release Cam Skattebo’s face mask until he dragged him to the turf and ripped his helmet off. ASU had first-and-goal from the Texas 8 and eventually tied the game at 24.
DALE ZANINE / IMAGN IMAGES
Show him the money: On the eve of the Peach Bowl, at an invitation-only gathering of donors and boosters in Atlanta, athletic director Graham Rossini announced that Dillingham had been rewarded with a five-year contract extension. “It’s important that we keep building the momentum across our football program, signaling to the rest of the nation that we got our coach locked up,” Rossini told The Republic.
On deck: ASU opens its 2025 schedule against Northern Arizona at Mountain America Stadium on Aug. 30.
COACH KENNY DILLINGHAM ON CAM SKATTEBO