Arizona State’s Jeff Sims (2) scores a touchdown against Duke. Gaby Velasquez/ El Paso Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Arizona State, Duke combine for multiple records in Sun Bowl shootout

By Andrew Wright | Last updated Dec 31, 2025 7:12 PM ET

New Year's Eve was loaded with excellent college football bowl games.

One of those was the ever-so-popular Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl from El Paso, Texas between the Arizona State Sun Devils and Duke Blue Devils. The two teams combined to set multiple records in the high-scoring affair that saw Duke come away with a 42-39 win over the Sun Devils.

Arizona State sets a bowl-game team record

According to the broadcast, Arizona State's 619 total yards was the most by any team in Sun Bowl history. 375 of those yards came on the arm of sixth-year senior quarterback Jeff Sims in what was likely the last start of his collegiate career.

The Sun Devils added the other 244 yards on the ground, with 120 of those coming from freshman running back Jason Brown Jr. in what was just his second career game.

JEFF SIMS 38 YARDS TO THE HOUSE @ASUFootball

CBS | Paramount + pic.twitter.com/bCEucC0YJq
— CBS Sports College Football (@CBSSportsCFB) December 31, 2025

The total game yards were also a record

Duke's offense was no slouch in Wednesday's win, as it went for 539 yards. 327 of those came from quarterback Darian Mensah, his most in a game since Nov. 1 against the Clemson Tigers.

Between the two teams, the game saw a combined 1,158 yards of total offense. That, along with Arizona State's total yards, was a Sun Bowl record.

Other records were in jeopardy

The 81 points between the two teams were the third most in Sun Bowl, trailing the 88 points between UCLA and Northwestern in 2005. Along with that, the 178 receiving yards from Duke receiver Que'Sean Brown were the fifth most in the history of the storied bowl game.

Duke defeats Arizona State in a 42-39 thriller to win the Sun Bowl!

The Blue Devils win a bowl game and finish with 9 wins for the third time in the last four years.

The teams combined for 1,158 yards, the most in Sun Bowl history. pic.twitter.com/PXGU74UZlj
— CFB Kings (@CFBKings) December 31, 2025

What is next for the bowl game

With the conclusion of the Sun Bowl on Wednesday, the game is currently open for a main sponsor. The bidding process for one of the most storied bowl games will be intriguing headed into the 2026 bowl season.

Andrew Wright

Andrew "Dew" Wright graduated from Charleston Southern University with a degree in Communication Studies. He is a lifelong Chicago Cubs and Washington Commanders fan.

More must-reads: