Arizona State holds on to beat No. 16 Kansas State 24-14 and remain in the Big 12 title picture
Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt looks to pass during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Kansas State Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Manhattan, Kan. Credit: AP/Charlie Riedel
MANHATTAN, Kan. — Sam Leavitt threw for 275 yards and three touchdowns, Jordyn Tyson had 12 catches for 176 yards and two of the scores, and Arizona State held off No. 16 Kansas State 24-14 on Saturday night in the Sun Devils' first trip to their new Big 12 rival.
Cam Skattebo returned from an injury to run for 73 yards, and the Sun Devils (8-2, 5-2) built a 21-0 halftime lead, before Kenny Dillingham's team held on for a third straight win to remain in contention for the Big 12 championship game.
Avery Johnson threw for 258 yards with two interceptions and a touchdown run for Kansas State (7-3, 4-3, No. 16 CFP), which had been 4-0 at home this season and 15-3 over the past three. D.J. Giddens ran for 133 yards and Joe Jackson had a TD run.
The bumbling Wildcats, who turned the ball over three times and failed to get the snap down on two field-goal tries, sure didn't look like a conference title contender that had last week off to prepare for the Sun Devils.
Johnson was picked off on the second play of the game, and Arizona State marched 49 yards with Leavitt hitting Tyson for the touchdown. On the next series, Dylan Edwards and Giddens were stuffed on consecutive carries, giving the Sun Devils the ball back on downs. And on the Wildcats' third series, Jayce Brown fumbled the ball away after a catch.
Arizona State capitalized on all the mistakes. Leavitt found Tyson for the second time from 30 yards out for a 14-0 lead, then hit wide open Chamon Metayer from 16 yards out to make it 21-0 early in the second quarter.
The cacophony of errors continued for the Wildcats: They had a 67-yard TD reception negated when offensive lineman Andrew Leingang blocked too far downfield. Johnson overthrew wide open Ty Bowman on a would-be 69-yard connection. And with first-and-goal at the Arizona State 5, they not only failed to get into the end zone but fumbled away the field-goal snap.
Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Kansas State Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Manhattan, Kan. Credit: AP/Charlie Riedel
Arizona State headed to halftime serenaded by the sound of Kansas State fans booing their own team.
The Wildcats tried to rally late, beginning with Johnson's touchdown with 2:51 left in the third quarter. They got the ball back and needed just 1:19 to score again and convert the 2-point conversion. But the Sun Devils picked up a couple of first downs on their next possession, running enough clock to make Kansas State's comeback bid nearly impossible.
The Wildcats muffed one last field-goal try with just over 2 minutes left that would have made it a one-possession game.
The Takeaway
Arizona State was picked to finish last in the Big 12 but is very much alive in the title chase. The Sun Devils face seven-ranked BYU, which along with No. 17 Colorado is ahead of them in the standings, at home next week.
Kansas State head coach Chris Klieman watches his team warm up before an NCAA college football game against Arizona State Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024, in Manhattan, Kan. Credit: AP/Charlie Riedel
Kansas State's Big 12 title chances essentially ended thanks to two straight dismal halves. The Wildcats allowed Houston to rally from a 19-10 second-half deficit in a 24-19 loss, then dug a first-half hole Saturday night that was far too deep.
Up Next
Arizona State has a showdown with BYU on Saturday.
Kansas State plays its home finale Saturday against Cincinnati.
