Arizona State falls 27-15 to Oklahoma State

Arizona State (1-1) fell 27-15 to Oklahoma State (2-0) in another sloppy game at Mountain America Stadium for the Sun Devils.

The Sun Devils came into the game looking to get revenge for last year’s 34-17 defeat in Stillwater.

They looked like they had a good chance early. ASU entered the second half up 15-10 after running several plays in the Sparky Formation in the first half and a beautiful pass from Jaden Rashada to Elijhah Badger that resulted in a 65-yard TD. ASU allowed 0 rushing yards in the first half, but the Cowboys still managed 10 points.

However, Arizona State scored 0 points in the second half and Rashada struggled mightily. The freshman QB finished the game going 16-of-29 with 167 yards, a touchdown and an interception.

After a turnover-on-downs on the first drive of the second half by ASU, QB Gunnar Gundy, OSU coach Mike Gundy’s son, led a touchdown drive for the Cowboys. It ended with a 3-yard TD pass to De’Zhaun Stribling to give Oklahoma State a 17-15 lead.

#OklahomaState Gunnar Gundy finds De’Zhaun Stribling from three yards out to give OSU its first lead of the game. XP makes it 17-15 Cowboys. #ArizonaState pic.twitter.com/2s6cV0pXWE

— Burn City Sports (@BurnCitySports) September 10, 2023

The next ASU drive Rashada threw his first collegiate interception.

Jaden Rashada throws his first ever interception on an in-breaking route. Lyrik Rawls was the guy to pick it off for the Cowboys. Oklahoma State is up 17-15 with 6:41 to go in the third quarter.#ForksUp #ActivateTheValley

— Burn City Sports (@BurnCitySports) September 10, 2023

Luckily for ASU, Oklahoma State missed a field goal attempt on the ensuing possession.

#OklahomaState’s Alex Hale misses a 49-yard FG that would have put the Cowboys up 20-15. Made one from 52 yards earlier. 17-15 OSU with 3:38 remaining in the 3Q #ArizonaState pic.twitter.com/AqQ2bODHht

— Burn City Sports (@BurnCitySports) September 10, 2023

There were three punts on the next three drives. ASU had a chance for a huge play with 12:39 remaining in the game, but Xavier Guillory dropped a wide open pass over the middle on a third down.

Oklahoma State took advantage of the drop on the next drive. Their third QB of the game, Garret Rangle, drove all the way down to the 1-yard line, but a false start penalty pushed them back to the six on a first-and-goal.

ASU’s defense stepped up to keep the game close. After a B.J. Green tackle for loss on first down, the Sun Devils held the Cowboys to only a field goal. OSU went up 20-15 with 7:11 to go.

This third down stop forced the Cowboys to kick a field goal to make it 20-15. A huge stop for the #ArizonaState defense. Offense has a chance to play hero with 7:11 on the clock.#ForksUp #ActivateTheValley pic.twitter.com/hqhdQ1aEXZ

— Burn City Sports (@BurnCitySports) September 10, 2023

Once again, ASU’s offense came up short on its next drive, turning the ball over on downs on its own 33-yard line and giving the ball back to OSU with under six minutes left.

#ArizonaState fails to pick up this fourth down conversion on its own 33-yard line giving the ball back to OSU with the Cowboys up 20-15 and under six minutes remaining. 0 points still in the second half for ASU, very similar half to last week’s pic.twitter.com/GcYeEC3gnW

— Burn City Sports (@BurnCitySports) September 10, 2023

Oklahoma State put the game to bed on the next drive with Rangel finding Brennan Presley for a 16-yard TD pass and only 2:56 remaining.

Touchdown #OklahomaState. Cowboys go up 27-15 after Rangel finds Brennan Presley from 16 yards out for the TD and that looks to be the dagger. Only 2:56 to go

— Burn City Sports (@BurnCitySports) September 10, 2023

Rashada had a nice ball to Guillory on the next possession, but ASU had another turnover-on-downs, its third off the half, to seal the victory for Oklahoma State.

First Half

After ASU went three-and-out on its first drive, the Sun Devils drove down the field on their next possession and ran the Sparky Formation in the red zone.

RB Cameron Skattebo ended up scoring from 13 yards out on the second play in the formation to put ASU up 7-0.

pic.twitter.com/sCckVlUzLt

— Burn City Sports (@BurnCitySports) September 10, 2023

Gunnar Gundy came it at QB next for OSU and led a drive down the field that resulted in a 52-yard field goal to make it 15-10 ASU.

Alex Hale’s 52-yard FG cuts into the ASU’s lead to make it 15-10 #ArizonaState with 7:41 in the 2Q pic.twitter.com/FYGaVq6dZa

— Burn City Sports (@BurnCitySports) September 10, 2023

Instant Takeaways

The tale of two halves was eerily reminiscent of last week’s Southern Utah game, but ASU could not tough this one out.

The fact that the Cowboys ran all over the Sun Devils in the second half after ASU allowed 0 rushing yards in the first is not good for ASU moving forward.

ASU WR Elijhah Badger looked like the best player on the field on offense with three receptions for 80 yards and two rushes for 21 yards, while B.J. Green had a monster game defensively, finishing with three tackles-for-loss and two sacks.

The Sun Devils lost a key member of their offensive line when starting right tackle Emmit Bohle was carted off the field with a leg injury in the first quarter. Starting left tackle Isaia Glass and reliable backup OL Cade Briggs were already not suited up for the game. The offensive line might be the biggest question mark for ASU moving forward.

Arizona State plays Fresno State in Week Three in their third of four straight home games and last non-conference matchup. The game is scheduled to kick off next Saturday, Sept. 16 at 6:30 p.m. MST.

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Brendan Mau is a Phoenix Suns insider and college sports reporter for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @Brendan_Mau