Off of a bye week, ASU (5-2, 2-2) is just one win away from a bowl game and has the opportunity to lock it in with a win over Oklahoma State (3-5, 0-5).
Last year, the Cowboys traveled to Tempe for a non-conference game and beat the Sun Devils 29-15. OSU is winless in its past five games this season, however, and Arizona State has made a quick turnaround after back-to-back 3-9 seasons.
ASU came back with 16 seconds left to defeat Kansas in a 35-31 thriller last time it came off of a bye. Oklahoma State leads the all-time series against Arizona State, 3-2.
Here are five keys to the matchup for the Sun Devils to win today’s game at 12:30 p.m.:
1. Leavitt produces in return off injury
Leavitt is set to return after missing the loss to Cincinnati on Oct. 19 due to suffering a rib injury the week before against Utah. Since transferring from Michigan State, he has been a revelation for the Sun Devils after watching Jaden Rashada enter the transfer portal and switch to Georgia. Leavitt has started in the first six games of the season, completing 90-of-152 passes and throwing for 1,166 yards, eight touchdowns and four interceptions while also rushing 55 times for four touchdowns and 279 yards.
He did end up finishing the Utah game after a hard tackle early in the second quarter, but was forced to sit out vs. Cincinnati and recuperate fully by ASU’s coaching staff. Leavitt is cleared and ready to go, making it interesting to see how he will perform after his time away from the field. If his rib doesn’t give him any complications or hinder his play on the field, he will look to continue his impressive year for ASU.
2. Kicking issues resolve
Before arriving in Stillwater, Arizona State’s kicking team of Ian Hershey, Parker Lewis and Carston Kieffer have been under scrutiny for missed kicks way wide of the uprights. As a unit, the trio is a horrendous 7-for-13 on field goals, with Hersey 7-for-12 and Kieffer 0-for-1. ASU head coach Kenny Dillingham was so disappointed in the kicking team after the Cincinnati defeat that the program hosted kicking tryouts. Though no walk-on has joined, this was a wake-up call to the three and respond.
ASU missed two field goal attempts against the Bearcats, including one being extremely pivotal to get the Sun Devils within seven. While both of the squandered chances were from beyond 40 yards, the kicks weren’t even close. Dillingham talked this week about how the team put the kickers in high-pressure situations with everyone watching them at practice and was pleased with what he saw. It remains to be seen if this kicking room is able to push away the struggles, but they will need to do so if this game is decided by one score.
3. Keep handing ball to Skattebo
A key component to Arizona State’s surprising season is how integral Cam Skattebo has been in controlling the offense. He has already been recognized three times this season as the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week after racking up 150 carries for 848 yards and 10 rushing touchdowns. The 5-foot-11 running back uses his physicality, breaks through tackles and develops acceleration quickly to cause major damage game in and game out.
As the saying goes, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
Keep giving Skattebo the ball and let him get to work because he is destroying teams this season and is showing no signs of slowing down. The combination of Arizona State’s offensive line creating and Skattebo finding pockets of space for him to run is one of the major reasons why the Sun Devils are where they are and will keep utilizing him for as long as it takes to get more wins on the board.
4. Don’t take unnecessary penalties
The only result that was heavily impacted by the Sun Devils’ own wrongdoing this year was when they committed eight penalties in the 30-22 loss to Texas Tech, Cincinnati was a case of them simply being outplayed. While it is just one result, Arizona State hasn’t nearly been as dominant on the road as it has been at home. ASU is 1-2 on the road this season against rowdy atmospheres and hostile environments as the away team, and will need to keep their heads in the game despite all of the things stacked against them.
Oklahoma State is having a rough season but with it being the Cowboys’ homecoming game, this may be the biggest crowd they will have this year. With the fans all having their back, the Cowboys will do whatever it takes to win on this special occasion. Arizona State has to play its brand of football and not get sucked into poor decision-making in terms of penalties to give them the best chance to achieve success. Compete on every drive and get ready for the next play.
5. Stop Gordon II
A highly-touted running back who was predicted to have a massive season, Oklahoma State running back Ollie Gordon II hasn’t nearly had as much success as he had a year ago. While OSU has been ravaged by injuries, Gordon II’s production has taken a hit as a result but still has the skill and ability to rip teams apart. Last season, he won the 2023 Doak Walker Award as the best running back in college football after posting 1,732 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns from 285 carries. Now, the Texas native has run 138 teams for 568 yards and eight touchdowns, a massive dropoff that was unpredicted.
The defense will keep its eye on Gordon II at all times because if he is given any opportunity to make an explosive play, he is going to take it.
ASU gearing up for Oklahoma State’s ‘very, very best’ with Cowboys winless in Big 12
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Reporter Alec Cipollini covers the Phoenix Mercury, Suns and ASU Athletics for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @AlecCipollini
