Arizona State completes turnaround behind historic playmakers

Arizona State Sun Devils running back Cam Skattebo (4) and offensive lineman Leif Fautanu (79) and quarterback Sam Leavitt (10) celebrate after Skattebo scores a rushing touchdown against the Iowa State Cyclones during the second half at AT&T Stadium. Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Arizona State completes unreal turnaround behind historic playmakers

By Austen Bundy | Last updated Dec 7, 2024 4:17 PM ET

The Arizona State Sun Devils were picked to finish dead last in this year's Big 12 media poll, and they took it personally.

Saturday, 34-year-old head coach Kenny Dillingham led his alma mater to a dominant 45-19 win over No. 16 Iowa State for the Big 12 Championship.

At 11-2, No. 15 ASU has clinched an automatic bid to the College Football Playoff and will await Selection Sunday to see where in the 12-team field it will be seeded.

Some, including Dillingham, argue strongly that ASU deserves a first-round bye — something No. 10 Boise State owned in the projected bracket entering the weekend.

On top of that, running back Cam Skattebo, who put up 170 rushing yards and two touchdowns against Iowa State, is receiving last-minute Heisman Trophy attention with discussions surrounding whether he should be named one of the three finalists heading to New York City this month.

He also broke the school record for most rushing touchdowns in a season (20) and tied the 74-year-old program record for most total touchdowns in a year (22), among other historical markers.

Things Skattebo did in the half:
- Became the 1st Sun Devil EVER with 2,000 yards from scrimmage in a season, and just 100th FBS player ever to do it.
- Tied Woody Green for most rushing TD in ASU single-season history (19).
- Moved into 3rd on ASU's single-season rushing list.
-… pic.twitter.com/i2UhBLfbRv
— Brad Denny (@BDenny29) December 7, 2024

Cam Skattebo deserve more Heisman hype?

(via @ASUFootball) pic.twitter.com/aDvDi3UyeW
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 7, 2024

Skattebo was one of several major players contributing to ASU's historic season.

Redshirt freshman Sam Leavitt put up 219 yards through the air and three touchdowns on Saturday, giving Sun Devil fans a reason to smile about the present moment and the future of the program.

Freshman wide receiver Jordyn Tyson, who missed the championship game with an injury, will also be one to watch in years to come in combination with Leavitt. He logged 1,101 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns to lead the team this season.

The eight-win reversal from 2023, in which ASU only won three games, is one of the best turnarounds in FBS history, according to the ABC broadcast.

The Sun Devils will now compete for a shot at a national title for the first time since 1996, coincidentally the last time the program had a Heisman finalist (QB Jake Plummer).

Austen Bundy

Austen Bundy is a journalist and sports junkie from the Washington, D. C. area

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