No. 15 Arizona State pounded No. 16 Iowa State 45-19 to clinch the 2024 Big 12 championship and lock up a spot in the College Football Playoff. Running back Cameron Skattebo had a monster game with 170 yards on the ground, 28 through the air and three total touchdowns to carry the Sun Devils to their first outright conference title since 1996.Â
Without wide receiver Jordyn Tyson in the lineup, much was put on Skattebo and quarterback Sam Leavitt. Skattebo broke off a 28-yard carry on the first play of the game, which was a sign of things to come. He later had carries of 53 yards and 47 yards that set up other touchdowns. Perhaps the biggest tone-setting play of the game, though, was Leavitt using a play-action to Skattebo on fourth down to set up a 63-yard pass deep into the red zone.Â
Iowa State scored on its first two drives but eventually broke serve and struggled to recover. The Cyclones missed a 46-yard field goal, which kicked off a six-drive stretch without any points. By the time they scored again, Arizona State had taken a 45-10 lead in the third quarter and the game was over. Quarterback Rocco Becht threw for 214 yards and two touchdowns in the win, with seven catches for 115 yards going to Jayden Higgins.Â
With the win, Arizona State has clinched one of the five automatic bids in the College Football Playoff, joining No. 10 Boise State, who captured the Mountain West title on Friday. The Sun Devils are projected to capture the 12-seed and likely face a road trip to either Penn State or Notre Dame, depending on results.Â
Read on below for takeaways from Arizona State’s dominant win in the Big 12 Championship Game on Saturday.Â