All Sun Devils

Arizona State crushes Iowa State in Big 12 football championship: Game recap, highlights

The Sun Devils were 2.5-point favorites over the Cyclones — and won by 26

Ben Sherman

Arizona State Sun Devils running back Cam Skattebo (4).
Arizona State Sun Devils running back Cam Skattebo (4). / Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
In this story:

Somehow, some way, Arizona State's first season in the Big 12 ended in a conference championship and a berth in the 12-team College Football Playoff.

Picked to finish last in the conference, with long odds to even win six games, the Sun Devils went 11-2 and culminated their run with a dominant 45-19 win over Iowa State in the Big 12 football championship game on Saturday.

Arizona State entered the game as 2.5-point betting favorites, but the predictive computer analytics gave Iowa State a 55% chance to win.

Read our complete game recap below, with big-play highlights, stats and analysis:

Fourth Quarter Live Updates

Final score: Arizona State 45, Iowa State 19

Arizona State just won the Big 12 and earned an automatic berth to the 12-team College Football Playoff. Truth is stranger than fiction. The final CFP Rankings will be revealed on Sunday at 10 a.m. MST.

Iowa State touchdown: Rocco Becht returns to the game and leads Iowa State to its first touchdown since the opening quarter. The touchdown comes on a 25-yard TD pass to Jaylin Noel. The two-point conversion is no good. Arizona State 45, Iowa State 19, 7:27 to play.

Rocco Becht returns: After being evaluated for a concussion, Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht has returned to the game.

Iowa State field goal: With true freshman QB Conner Moberly in the game, Iowa State puts together a drive that culminates in a 24-yard field goal by Kyle Konrardy. Arizona State 45, Iowa State 13, 12:04 left in the game.

Shamari Simmons ejected: Arizona State's Shamari Simmons blasts through the line on a blitz and flattens Iowa State quarterback Rocco Becht. Simmons is flagged for targeting and ejected from the game. Becht is being evaluated for a concussion and has left the game.

Third Quarter Live Updates

Arizona State Sun Devils wide receiver Xavier Guillory (1) celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the third quarter
Arizona State Sun Devils wide receiver Xavier Guillory (1) celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the third quarter against the Iowa State Cyclones. / Tim Heitman-Imagn Images

End of third quarter: Arizona State 45, Iowa State 10

Cam Skattebo for Heisman update: Arizona State's running back now has 170 yards rushing on 16 carries, including 2 touchdowns. He has also caught 2 passes for 38 yards and a touchdown. He has dominated this game.

Arizona State touchdown! The Sun Devils convert the turnover into a touchdown on a 33-yard catch-and-run by Cam Skattebo. Turn out the lights. This game is over. Arizona State is making a statement to the College Football Playoff Committee. Arizona State 45, Iowa State 10, 2:57 left in the third quarter.

Iowa State fumbles again! Shamari Simmons and Clayton Smith hammer Iowa State running back Abu Sama III in the backfield, and he coughs it up. Arizona State lineman Justin Wodtly recovers the fumble. The Cyclones have now turned it over on three straight possessions.

Arizona State touchdown! Sam Leavitt throws a back-shoulder 21-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Guillory on 3rd-and-5. Incredible catch by Guillory. Kenny Dillingham is emptying the clip. Arizona State 38, Iowa State 10, 6:27 left in the 3rd quarter. Leavitt is now 10-of-15 for 185 yards and 2 touchdowns. Cam Skattebo has rushed 15 times for 166 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Arizona State interception! This is unbelievable. Iowa State QB Rocco Becht throws a pass off the helmet of his offensive lineman and Arizona State's Keith Abney picks off the deflected pass. The Sun Devils take over on Iowa State's 26-yard line with 7:18 left in the third quarter, leading 31-10.

Arizona State touchdown! The Sun Devils convert on the turnover on an 8-yard touchdown pass from Sam Leavitt to Xavier Guillory to give ASU a 31-10 lead with 7:38 left in the third quarter.

Arizona State recovers fumble! Iowa State fumbles on the opening drive of the second half and Arizona State recovers. Javan Robinson forced the fumble by Abu Sama III, and Arizona State's Jeff Clark recovered it. First-and-10 Arizona State from Iowa State's 43-yard line.

Halftime Stats: Arizona State 24, Iowa State 10

Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt was 6-of-8 for 147 yards in the first half. He also rushed 5 times for 28 yards and a touchdown. Running back Cam Skattebo was the star, rushing 10 times for 140 yards and a touchdown. He had 90 yards rushing AFTER contact.

Second Quarter Live Updates

Arizona State Sun Devils wide receiver Melquan Stovall (5) dives for the end zone
Arizona State Sun Devils wide receiver Melquan Stovall (5) dives for the end zone as Iowa State Cyclones defensive back Ta'Shawn James (19) chases during the first quarter at AT&T Stadium. / Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

Halftime: Arizona State 24, Iowa State 10

Touchdown Arizona State! Cam Skattebo caps off a 4-play, 72-yard drive with a 2-yard touchdown run to give Arizona State a 24-10 lead with 27 seconds left in the half. Skattebo has 10 carries for 140 yards and 2 touchdowns. Just give the man the Heisman Trophy.

Cam Skattebo ... again! This is unbelievable. Skattebo explodes for another tackle-breaking run, this one for 53 yards. He now has 9 carries for 138 yards.

Arizona State deep shot! Sam Leavitt connects with Penn State transfer Malik McLain on a 43-yard pass to give the Sun Devils the ball deep in Iowa State territory. It's McLain's first catch of the season. He's using a redshirt year and will be back for a fifth season.

Iowa State missed field goal! After a controversial non-call on a potential pass interference at the goal line, Iowa State has to settle for a 46-yard field goal — and Kyle Konrardy shanks it wide left. It's still Arizona State 17, Iowa State 10 with 5:13 left in the first half.

Arizona State touchdown! Cam Skattebo finishes off Arizona State's third drive with a 3-yard touchdown run to give Arizona State a 17-10 lead with 10:49 left in the first half. First team to 40 wins? Skattebo has 7 carries for 85 yards and Sam Leavitt is 4-of-5 for 99 yards.

Skattebo does it again! Arizona State's Heisman Trophy candidate breaks multiple tackles on an incredible 47-yard run — a sight Sun Devils fans have seen all season long.

Iowa State field goal: Arizona State's defense gets a huge "stop" inside the red zone. After having a 1st-and-goal at the 9-yard line, Iowa State goes backward and has to settle for a field goal on 4th-and-goal from the 18-yard line. Kyle Konrardy drills the 36-yard field goal to tie the game at 10-10 with 13:51 left in the first half.

Iowa State driving: The Cyclones have the ball to start the second quarter, 1st-and-goal at the Arizona State 9-yard line. Iowa State is gashing ASU's defense with chunk plays to receivers Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel.

First Quarter Live Updates

Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback Sam Leavitt (10) passed for 90 yards and ran for a TD in the first quarter.
Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback Sam Leavitt (10) passed for 90 yards and ran for a TD in the first quarter. / Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images

End of first quarter: Arizona State 10, Iowa State 7

Arizona State touchdown! On 3rd-and-goal from the 3-yard line, quarterback Sam Leavitt scores on a designed QB run around the left end to give Arizona State a 10-7 lead with 2:46 left in the first quarter. Leavitt is 3-of-4 for 90 yards and Melquan Stovall has 2 catches for 85 yards. So far, Stovall has done a phenomenal job replacing injured star receiver Jordyn Tyson.

Arizona State 4th-and-1 big play! Kenny Dillingham said it over a month ago: the Sun Devils are playing with "house money." On 4th-and-inches from their own 34-yard line, Sam Leavitt drops back and hits Melquan Stovall for a 63-yard reception down to the Iowa State 3-yard line. What a gutsy call. Completely fooled Iowa State.

Touchdown Iowa State: The Cyclones' offensive line dominated the opening drive, opening up big holes for Iowa State's backs. The 11-play, 75-yard drive culminates with a 3-yard touchdown pass from Rocco Becht to Carson Hansen. Iowa State leads 7-3 with 6:30 left in the first quarter. The Sun Devils will have to make some defensive adjustments.

Arizona State field goal! Carston Kieffer drills a 32-yard field goal to give Arizona State an early 3-0 lead. The Sun Devils went 60 yards in 7 plays on their opening drive of the game. The drive stalled at Iowa State's 15-yard line.

Cam Skattebo big run! On the the first play of the game, Arizona State's Heisman Trophy candidate explodes for a 28-yard run.

Kickoff is scheduled for 9:08 a.m. PT/10:08 a.m. MST. Iowa State won the toss and elected to defer to the second half.

Pregame Updates

The Sun Devils have arrived at AT&T Stadium and the crowd is filing in. Just over an hour until kickoff.

More Arizona State & Big 12 Analysis

Published |Modified
Ben Sherman
BEN SHERMAN

Ben Sherman has been covering the sports world for most of his journalism career, including 17 years with The Oregonian/OregonLive. One of his favorite memories was covering the 1999 Fiesta Bowl - the first BCS National Championship Game - at Sun Devil Stadium.

Home/Football