With how the College Football Playoff’s expanded format is currently shaping out, only the Big 12 champion will be able to secure a spot in the prestigious tournament and ASU has that opportunity to punch its ticket with a victory over Iowa State.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Getting massive wins when they needed to and other results going in their favor, both Arizona State (10-2, 7-2 Big 12) and Iowa State (10-2, 7-2) will meet for the first time in each school’s history. As one of the newest members of the Big 12, the Sun Devils will be competing in their first conference championship game since the 2013 Pac-12 Championship.
Reclaiming the Territorial Cup, ASU demolished bitter rival Arizona (4-8, 2-7) 49-7 to close out the regular season last week. Iowa State, on the other hand, battled through adversity to come out on top with a 29-21 win over Kansas State (8-4, 5-4).
For the first time this year, Arizona State will be without star wide receiver Jordyn Tyson after he suffered an undisclosed injury against Arizona in the third quarter. The Colorado transfer is out indefinitely, and will be a massive miss to the Sun Devils offense.
This will be the Cyclones’ second crack at the Big 12 title after falling 27-21 to Oklahoma in 2020. Pinnacle High School product and Phoenix native Spencer Rattler was the MVP of the game for the Sooners.
Inside the Dallas Cowboys’ AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, only one team will advance to the CFP while the other will have just a bowl game to look forward to.
Here is how Arizona State could defeat Iowa State without Tyson and win the conference crown:
Give Skattebo the keys
Having no Tyson as part of his offense, Leavitt will have to make the proper adjustments without his No. 1 receiver. While players like Chamon Metayer, Xavier Guillory, Trey Omeire and Melquan Stovall can step up in place of Tyson with huge implications on the line, Arizona State’s offensive line is still intact which means that running back Cam Skattebo will be utilized more than ever.
The Cyclones rank No. 96 in defending against the run, allowing an average of 173.7 yards per game. While this is positive news for the Sun Devils and Skattebo, missing Tyson may provide Iowa State with an additional player backing off of the receivers to defend the rush. Say that does happen, Skattebo is still destined to produce at a high level but ASU offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo will have to get crafty since Iowa State knows the running back is its biggest threat. “Skat” has rushed for 1,398 yards and 17 touchdowns from 247 carries this season, being named onto the All-Big 12 first-team.
Leavitt finds connection with new receiver
As mentioned above, Leavitt will have Metayer, Guillory, Omeire and Stovall as options who can make a name for themselves on a national stage. Malik McClain, who has redshirted but could still play with postseason games not counting towards the redshirt requirement, has practiced and could also feature. Against Arizona, ASU freshman Derek Eusebio caught a 63-yard touchdown pass on his first college reception. Even Skattebo has proved that he can be a dependable target for Leavitt at times, with 35 receptions for 468 yards and two touchdowns this year.
Yes, the absence of Tyson is a big blow to receivers coach Hines Ward’s group, but there is enough talent that Leavitt could lean on. Since Skattebo may be guarded more than ever with Tyson gone, Leavitt may elect to complete short passes when he can and move up the field strategically.
Handle big game pressure
For a majority of the team, this will be the first championship they have competed for in years. Adding along to the fact that the game will be inside an NFL stadium and Iowa State fans travel well to support the team wherever it plays, it is going to be a rambunctious atmosphere that the Sun Devils will have to deal with. ASU’s two losses this season, 24-14 to Cincinnati and 30-22 to Texas Tech, were both on the road and in hostile environments. However, the Sun Devils were able to beat Kansas State 24-14 when the Wildcats were nationally ranked.
On the current roll that ASU has been on, the surrounding noise shouldn’t be a huge factor but the magnitude of the game may. With a championship up for grabs, nerves may rise and emotions can get the best of some players. Keeping those emotions in check will be key for ASU if it wants to bring the title back to Tempe.
Convert on fourth down
ASU’s kicking game has been the worst part of the team all season, and it is not even close. Between Parker Lewis, Ian Hershey and Carston Kieffer, the trio is a woeful 8-for-16 (50%) on field goal attempts. The kicking struggles were on full display in Tucson when Lewis had a 21-yard field goal try hit the upright and ricochet away.
While big games like this come down sometimes to a field goal, Arizona State will not take a chance with how horrific the kickers have been. They can make all the extra points they want (49-for-50), but it doesn’t change the fact that no matter the distance, they have been unreliable and can’t be trusted. ASU has elected to go for it on fourth down 27 times this year, converting in 14 instances or 51.9% of the time.
Kenny Dillingham receives Big 12 top honor ahead of conference title match
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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
