Injuries and losses marked Arizona State’s first season under coach Kenny Dillingham, ending with a tough defeat to rival Arizona at home the previous year.
This year, expectations were low again, with the team picked to finish last in their first season in the Big 12.
However, they proved everyone wrong.
Cam Skattebo ran for 177 yards and three touchdowns, and Sam Leavitt threw for three touchdowns as No. 14 Arizona State crushed rival Arizona 49-7 on Saturday to secure a spot in the Big 12 championship game.
“Our guys played their best game of football on the most important game of the year, and it was great to see,” Dillingham said.
The Sun Devils (10-2, 7-2 Big 12, No. 16 CFP) needed a win and some help to make it into next Saturday’s conference title game.
Arizona State made sure there was no doubt about the win.
The Sun Devils led 35-0 at halftime, thanks to three touchdown runs by Skattebo, and barely eased up in the second half. Leavitt threw for 291 yards, completing 17 of 22 passes, and Arizona State finished with 643 total yards, a stark contrast to last year’s 59-23 loss to Arizona.
After a short wait, the Sun Devils secured their trip to Arlington, Texas, next weekend after Cincinnati lost to TCU 20-13. Arizona State will face No. 17 Iowa State in the Big 12 championship.
“It was great to go out there and put it on them, especially after what they did to us last year,” Leavitt said. “It just makes the next one even bigger.”
Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan caught six passes for 68 yards and a touchdown in what is likely his final game before going to the NFL. The Wildcats (4-8, 2-7) struggled on both sides of the ball in a tough first season under coach Brent Brennan.
“They got after us in every way today,” Brennan said. “With what this game means to everyone here, everyone in this town and this state, for us to be so unproductive is soul-crushing.”
After being embarrassed in last year’s Territorial Cup, the Sun Devils were determined to seek revenge in the most dominant way possible.
Mission accomplished.
Arizona State dominated Arizona, starting with two 2-yard touchdown runs by Skattebo. Jordyn Tyson turned a screen pass into a 13-yard touchdown, and Skattebo added another 3-yard touchdown run to make it 28-0.
The Sun Devils ended the half by stopping Arizona on downs and quickly marched down the field for a 22-yard touchdown pass from Leavitt to Chamon Metayer.
“They out-executed us in all phases,” Arizona defensive lineman Tre Smith said. “That’s what it comes down to.”
