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Game recap, highlights: Arizona State stuns Utah in Big 12 shocker

Read our recap of the Sun Devils' shocking victory over No. 16 Utah on Friday night

Ben Sherman

Arizona State Sun Devils linebacker Caleb McCullough (22) reacts after intercepting a pass from Utah Utes quarterback Cameron Rising (7) at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe on Oct. 11, 2024.
Arizona State Sun Devils linebacker Caleb McCullough (22) reacts after intercepting a pass from Utah Utes quarterback Cameron Rising (7) at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe on Oct. 11, 2024. / Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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Arizona State was looking for its first victory over Utah since 2018 - and Kenny Dillingham's program delivered.

Cam Skattebo rushed for 158 yards and two touchdowns and Arizona State's defense picked off Cam Rising three times in a 27-19 victory on Friday night. The Sun Devils, who were picked to finish last in the Big 12, are now 5-1 and 2-1 in the conference. Utah, who was picked to finish first and came into the game ranked No. 16 in the country, is now 4-2 and 1-2 in the Big 12.

Here is our full game recap, including big-play highlights and in-game analysis from Arizona State's shocking victory:

(Refresh for the latest updates.)

FINAL STATS

Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt left the game with an injury early in the second quarter, but returned to play the entire second half. It was clear he wasn't 100%, but he gutted it out. Leavitt finished 11-of-18 for 154 yards with one TD and one pick. He rushed 6 times for 22 yards, all in the first half.

Cam Skattebo was the offensive player of the game for Arizona State. He busted loose on two long touchdown runs that were the difference for the Sun Devils. He finished with 22 carries for 158 yards and touchdown runs of 50 and 47 yards. He also caught 4 passes for 41 yards.

Linebacker Caleb McCullough was the defensive player of the game for ASU, finishing with 12 tackles and 2 interceptions. His pick of Cam Rising with 1:40 left essentially sealed the victory.

In his return from injury, Utah quarterback Cam Rising struggled. He finished the game16-of-37 for 209 yards and 3 interceptions. He either couldn't grip the ball or couldn't plant on his injured ankle. Or both. The result was almost every throw coming up short and off target.

4TH QUARTER UPDATES

FINAL SCORE: Arizona State 27, Utah 19

The Sun Devils run out the clock and pull off the stunning victory!

ASU INTERCEPTION! Caleb McCullough picks off Cam Rising for the second time, and this one should end the game. Rising stared down his receiver and threw another wobbly pass. McCullough read it all the way and hung on for the interception. ASU takes over at the Utah 38-yard line with 1:40 left in the game.

ASU TOUCHDOWN! Cam Skattebo is out of his mind! He breaks through the line again and takes it 47 yards to the house to give Arizona State a 27-19 lead with 2:41 left in the game. Skattebo now has 21 carries for 156 yards and 2 touchdowns.

UTAH FIELD GOAL: Cole Becker drills his fourth field goal of the game, this one from 46 yards, to cut ASU's lead to 20-19 with 5:42 left in the game.

ASU TURNOVER: The Sun Devils go for it on 4th-and-1 from their own 29-yard line and Cam Skattebo gets stuffed running out of the wildcat. Gotta love Kenny Dillingham's confidence to go for it in that situation, but not converting puts ASU's defense in a tough spot. 9:00 left in the game.

UTAH TURNOVER! The Utes go for it on 4th-and-8 at Arizona State's 24-yard line and Cam Rising throws another duck that comes up short. He had wide receiver Money Parks wide open, but the short pass forced him to go to the ground four yards short of the first down. Arizona State takes over at its own 20-yard line with 10:49 left in the game.

3RD QUARTER UPDATES

END OF 3RD QUARTER: Arizona State 20, Utah 16

ASU TOUCHDOWN! Cam Skattebo with an unbelievable touchdown run! He breaks through the line, somehow keeps his balance and scampers down the left sideline for a 50-yard touchdown to give ASU a 20-16 lead with 1:32 left in the quarter. He now has 14 carries for 96 yards. That was his longest run of the season.

UTAH TOUCHDOWN: Micah Bernard caps a punishing 12-play, 79-yard drive with a 6-yard touchdown run to give Utah a 16-13 lead. Bernard pounded ASU on the ground, carrying it six times for 35 yards. He now has 16 carries for 106 yards. Utah took more than seven minutes off the clock. There is now 3:19 left in the 3rd quarter.

CAM RISING STRUGGLING: Utah's seventh-year quarterback is 7-of-21 for 97 yards and 2 interceptions. He either can't grip the ball or can't plant on his injured ankle. Either way, almost every throw is short and off target. It's hard to believe he's still out there.

ASU INTERCEPTION! The Big 12 officials nearly strike again. Utah QB Cam Rising throws another duck and it's picked off by ASU defensive back Keith Abney. The officials initially called targeting on Clayton Smith for his hit on Rising, which would have nullified the interception. After review, they determined it was not targeting, and the interception stands. They got it right. ASU has the ball at its own 38-yard line.

SAM LEAVITT RETURNS: Arizona State's starting QB returned to the game to start the second half. He exited with 11:19 left in the second quarter after taking a hard hit to the ribs.

HALFTIME STATS

Arizona State outgained Utah 179 to 148 in the first half, but more importantly held the Utes to just 51 yards rushing. And that was without linebacker Keyshaun Elliott and defensive lineman Clayton Smith, who were both suspended for the first half after being ejected for targeting penalties inArizona State's 35-31 victory over Kansas. Both players will return in the second half.

Utah QB Cam Rising is 7-of-20 for 97 yards and an interception. He took a nasty hit early on and appeared to roll his ankle. Whether it's his ankle or his throwing hand, he does not look right.

Arizona State QB Sam Leavitt is 6-of-10 for 99 yards with one TD and one pick. He left the game midway through the second quarter after taking a hit to the ribs on a scramble. He returned for the final play of the first half.

2ND QUARTER UPDATES

HALFTIME SCORE: Arizona State 13, Utah 9

ASU QB Sam Leavitt returned to the game for the final snap of the second quarter, a kneel down. Great sign for the Sun Devils.

UTAH FIELD GOAL: Cole Becker boots his third field goal of the first half, this one from 30 yards, to cut Arizona State's lead to 13-9 with 23 seconds left in the half.

ASU INTERCEPTION! Cam Rising throws another errant ball and this one gets picked off by ASU linebacker Caleb McCullough. ASU takes over at its own 14-yard line with 5:00 left in the first half. I'm stunned Rising is still in this game. He is clearly not right.

TOUCHDOWN ASU! Backup quarterback Jeff Sims scores on a 2-yard run to give Arizona State a 13-6 lead. Sims finished the drive that Leavitt started. It covered 72 yards in 13 plays. ASU now has 161 yards of offense to just 43 for Utah. 8:38 left in the 2nd quarter.

SAM LEAVITT INJURED: ASU's quarterback takes a hard hit on a scramble and stays down. Backup QB Jeff Sims is warming up.

Arizona State has the ball to start the second quarter, 1st and 10 at the 50-yard line.

1ST QUARTER UPDATES

END OF 1ST QUARTER: Arizona State 6, Utah 6

ASU TOUCHDOWN! Sam Leavitt throws a 26-yard touchdown pass to Jordyn Tyson, but the PAT is no good. ASU 6, Utah 6 with 2:04 left in the 1st quarter.

ASU's scoring drive covered 81 yards in 11 plays. Leavitt converted a 4th-and-7 with a 9-yard scramble to keep the drive alive. He threw the TD pass to Tyson on the next play.

UTAH FIELD GOAL: The Utes take a 6-0 lead on a 40-yard field goal by Cole Becker. Terrific job by ASU's defense not giving ground after the turnover. Utah QB Cam Rising does not look right. It appears he's having a tough time gripping the football and his passes look like shot puts. I would not be surprised to see freshman Isaac Wilson soon.

UTAH INTERCEPTION: ASU quarterback Sam Leavitt gets hit on a third-down throw and the ball flutters into the hands of Utah lineman Junior Tafuna. Utah takes over at ASU's 28-yard line. Not an ideal start for the Sun Devils.

UTAH FIELD GOAL: The Utes cap their opening drive with a 48-yard field goal to take an early 3-0 lead. Utah QB Cam Rising, playing with a glove on his throwing hand, looked rusty and was off target on several throws. The Utes were pounding the Sun Devils on the ground, but the drive stalled when Rising couldn't convert on 3rd-and-long. The drive covered 48 yards on 12 plays. 9:57 left in the 1st quarter.

Official kickoff time is 7:35 p.m. MST. ASU's Mountain America Stadium is mostly full, but definitely not a sellout.

Arizona State wins the coin toss and defers to the second half. Utah will start with the ball, with Cam Rising at quarterback.

PREGAME UPDATES

Utah quarterback Cam Rising is warming up with a glove on his throwing hand.

We're about 15 minutes away from kickoff at Mountain America Stadium and the temperature is 95 degrees. Much cooler than last week's kickoff temperature of 107.

Don't forget, this is a matchup between the preseason favorite in the Big 12 (Utah) and the preseason favorite to finish last (Arizona State).

More Arizona State vs. Utah analysis

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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.

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