The Arizona State football team was a 7.5-point underdog against No. 16 Kansas State on Saturday.
It didn’t play like it.
ASU jumped out to a 24-0 lead on the Wildcats and held on for a 24-14 win to move to 8-2 on the season and keep its Big 12 Championship hopes alive.
ASU is 5-2 in conference play in its first season in the Big 12.
ASU’s Jordyn Tyson had two touchdowns and 176 yards receiving on 12 catches for the Sun Devils.
Sam Leavitt was 21-for-34 for 275 yards with three touchdowns.
Cam Skattebo rushed for 73 yards on 25 carries.
ASU handed Kansas State its first loss of the season at home.
ASU dominated the first half and took a 21-0 lead into the third quarter, but Kansas State didn’t go away.
The Wildcats ended up gaining more yards than the Sun Devils in the game, 412-398, but had more turnovers, two interceptions and a lost fumble, as well as having two bad exchanges on field-goal attempts.
ASU lost one fumble in the game.
Avery Johnson was 24-for-40 for Kansas State, throwing for 258 yards.
DJ Giddens rushed for 133 yards on 14 carries, coming on very strong in the second half.
Kansas State fell to 7-3 overall and 4-3 in conference play. It hosts Cincinnati next week.
ASU hosts BYU in a huge game in Tempe.
Look back at our Arizona State vs Kansas State game updates below.
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Arizona State is leaving Kansas with a huge win.
Shamari Simmons intercepted Avery Johnson in the end zone to preserve a 24-14 score for the Sun Devils, who took a knee to run out the clock and pick up the win over Kansas State.
Final score: Arizona State 24, Kansas State 14
Kansas State has 1:40 left in this game and it has the ball after forcing ASU to a 3-and-out.
The Wildcats are starting the drive at the ASU 22-yard line. They have one timeout remaining.
It’s looking good for ASU. Kansas State needs two scores in 1:40 to tie this game.
Down 24-14, Kansas State needed two scores to beat ASU. They appeared to be well on their way to one, before coming up short again.
The Wildcats elected to run it on 2nd & 10 at the ASU 19, but DJ Giddens only gained one yard and they lost precious time on the lock. Then, they were forced to attempt a field goal after an incomplete pass from Avery Johnson on third down.
That field goal attempt, a 36-yarder from Chris Tennant, was wide, giving ASU the ball back with 2:02 left in the fourth quarter. It was another bad snap on the kick.
The run call seemed to really stall Kansas State’s drive, but ASU will take it. They are 2:02 away from a huge win on the road.
The Wildcats stopped ASU, forcing the Sun Devils to punt after a 7-play, 34-yard drive.
The only consolation for ASU fans? Arizona State did take 5:55 off the clock, leaving 5:31 left in the fourth quarter.
But Kansas State has definitely made this a game with its 14 straight points, making this next possession a huge one. Kansas State has all of its timeouts left. ASU does have any.
This game is not over.
Kansas State just drove 90 yards in 1:19, scoring a touchdown on a 4-yard run from Joe Jackson.
The Wildcats then converted the 2-point conversion attempt this time on a pass from Avery Johnson to Tre Spivey to pull within 24-14.
There is 11:26 left in the fourth quarter.
It only took Kansas State four plays to score. DJ Giddens had a 45-yard run on the drive. He now has 13 carries for 132 yards in this game, exploding in the second half.
Score: Arizona State 24, Kansas State 14 (11:26 left in fourth quarter)
The Sun Devils had to punt against Kansas State but they somehow took 5:06 off the clock during a 7-play drive that only went for 20 yards.
The clock is ASU’s friend right now, with 12:45 left in the fourth quarter.
The Wildcats took advantage of the ASU turnover, driving 78 yards over six plays to score on a 10-yard run from Avery Johnson.
ASU limited the damage, however, stopping Kansas State on its 2-point conversion attempt to keep the lead at 24-6.
DJ Giddens had a 27-yard run and a 19-yard run on the drive to get Kansas State going.
Score: Arizona State 24, Kansas State 6 (2:51 left in third quarter)
ASU has made its first real mistake of this game.
Wide receiver Jordyn Tyson just fumbled the ball after gaining 17 yards on a pass from Sam Leavitt, giving Kansas State the ball back and ending ASU’s drive, which had been an impressive one up until that point.
ASU had gone 60 yards over nine plays on the possession and was looking to perhaps put this game further out of reach, but the Wildcats have at least some life now. There is 5:15 left in the third quarter.
Kansas State will have the ball at its own 22-yard line.
The Sun Devils forced Kansas State to a 3-and-out to open the second half, only allowing the Wildcats to gain seven yards on a run by DJ Giddens.
Avery Johnson threw two incomplete passes on the drive.
Kansas State’s offense is usually centered around its run game, but it has just 35 yards on 16 carries today. Johnson is 9-for-16 passing for 80 yards.
Even the much-maligned kicking game is going right for ASU in this game.
Parker Lewis just hit a 47-yard field goal to give the Sun Devils a 24-0 lead over the Wildcats, capping off a 7-play, 46-yard drive.
ASU got 41 yards on the drive on a pass from Sam Leavitt to Jordyn Tyson.
Tyson is having himself a game, with seven catches for 132 yards and two touchdowns.
Score: Arizona State 24, Kansas State 0 (11:00 left in third quarter)
ASU came up empty on its final possession of the first half, trying a fake field goal that didn’t go anywhere on the final play of the second quarter.
The Sun Devils drove 45 yards over 12 plays and took 2:56 off the clock.
They will have receive the opening kickoff of the second half.
Still, it was an impressive first 30 minutes for the Sun Devils, who outgained the Wildcats 227-108 and outscored them, 21-0.
Sam Leavitt was 12-for-22 for ASU, with 156 yards and three touchdowns.
Jordyn Tyson had six catches for 91 yards and two touchdowns.
Avery Johnson was 9-for-14 for 80 yards, with one interception for Kansas State.
The Wildcats rushed for 28 yards on 15 carries. They also lost a fumble and turned the ball over on downs twice (once on a bad snap on a field-goal attempt).
Halftime score: Arizona State 21, Kansas State 0
Kansas State just drove 60 yards in 14 plays and took 7:14 off the clock and it came up empty on the drive after having a 1st & goal at the ASU 5-yard line.
Here’s how the plays went from that point of the drive:
Wow. Hard to believe that the Wildcats didn’t get on the scoreboard.
Kansas State also had a 63-yard touchdown reception negated by an ineligible man down field call early in the drive, a devastating blow to the Wildcats after their crowd finally had something to cheer about.
Sam Leavitt just threw a 16-yard touchdown pass to Chamon Metayer to give Arizona State a 21-0 lead over Kansas State in the second quarter in Manhattan, Kansas.
The latest scoring drive went for seven plays and 61 yards.
The Sun Devils are dominating this game.
They have 177 total yards. They have 11 first downs.
They have a 13:26 to 6:24 advantage in time of possession.
The crowd at Bill Snyder Family Stadium is stunned.
Score: Arizona State 21, Kansas State 0 (10:10 left in second quarter)
The Sun Devils just forced another Kansas State turnover, getting the ball back on a Jayce Brown fumble after the Wildcats were in their best field position of the game.
Kansas State only has 40 total yards in this game. They have two first downs. They have rushed for a total of 12 yards.
They have thrown an interception, fumbled the ball and turned the ball over on downs.
The Sam Leavitt to Jordyn Tyson connection is paying off for the Sun Devils.
The ASU QB just completed a 30-yard pass to the wide receiver, combining for their second touchdown of the game to take a 14-0 lead.
ASU impressed on the drive, which took 11 plays and went for 67 yards. The Sun Devils converted three third-downs on the possession.
Tyson has three catches for 50 yards in this game, with two touchdown receptions. Leavitt is 4-for-9 for 53 yards, with the two touchdown passes.
Score: Arizona State 14, Kansas State 0 (14:18 left in second quarter)
The Wildcats just went 3-and-out vs the Sun Devils, only gaining three yards on their possession as they struggle to get anything going offensively.
Perhaps Kansas State has a little rust after its week off? You also have to give ASU some credit. The Sun Devils are pressuring Avery Johnson, who is 3-for-6 for 18 yards.
The Sun Devils couldn’t take advantage of the Kansas State turnover this time around, having to punt after only gaining three yards on three plays.
Sam Leavitt is 2-for-5 for 14 yards to start this game, but one of the completions was for a touchdown.
The Sun Devils ended the Wildcats’ first possession with an interception for a turnover.
They ended their second with a turnover on downs.
ASU stopped Kansas State on 3rd & 1 and 4th & 1 runs to get the ball back at the Wildcats’ 47. Kansas State gained 22 yards on their drive.
Kansas State has five carries for six total yards early in this game.
The Sun Devils took advantage of the Kansas State turnover, scoring a touchdown on an 11-yard pass from Sam Leavitt to Jordyn Tyson to take a 7-0 lead.
It took ASU six plays to go 49 yards and get the score. The drive took 2:58 off the clock.
ASU benefitted from a holding call on Kansas State after the Wildcats tackled Cam Skattebo for a 2-yard loss on a 3rd and 3 at the Kansas State 8 on the drive.
The Sun Devils couldn’t have asked for a better start.
Score: Arizona State 7, Kansas State 0 (11:19 left in first quarter)
The ASU vs Kansas State game is now on ESPN and you may have missed a big play.
The Sun Devils deflected Avery Johnson’s first pass of the game and Xavion Alford intercepted it, getting a big early turnover in the game after the Wildcats started with the opening possession.
The game is airing on ESPNEWS as the SMU vs Boston College game concludes on ESPN. ASU won the toss and deferred to the second half.
What’s at stake in the Arizona State vs Kansas State game today?
A lot is on the line in Manhattan, Kansas.
The Sun Devils and Wildcats are both 7-2 overall and 4-2 in Big 12 play, potentially making this game a de facto elimination game in the conference title race.
BYU sits at the top of the conference standings at 6-0. The Cougars host Kansas later today. Colorado is in second in the conference at 6-1 after beating Utah earlier Saturday.
Iowa State and West Virginia are also currently 4-2 in conference play, tied with Kansas State and Arizona State.
The Cyclones host Cincinnati tonight, while West Virginia is currently playing Baylor.
So, yeah, this ASU-Kansas State game is big tonight.
ASU hosts BYU next week. Kansas State hosts Cincinnati.
USA TODAY Sports’ Jordan Mendoza has ASU beating Kansas State and joining the Big 12 title race as his bold college football prediction today.
He wrote: “The amount of teams in the race to clinch a spot in the College Football Playoff through the Big 12 is startling to dwindle, but a new team will join the fold in Arizona State. Kenny Dillingham deserves major props for what he’s accomplishing with the Sun Devils. After a 3-9 first season, he’s 7-2 this time around with a strong running game that has been complemented with solid quarterback play. Arizona State will visit a Kansas State team that has been a little shaky recently. As good as the Wildcats are at stopping the run, Cam Skattebo and company find holes and push through a big time road win. At 8-2 and 5-2 in conference play, Arizona State jumps in the playoff rankings and heads into a big-time showdown with Brigham Young with a chance to make the conference title game.”
More:Arizona State football looks to keep Big 12 title game hopes alive at Kansas State
ASU running back Cam Skattebo is expected back for the Sun Devils against Kansas State after missing last week’s win over UCF with an injury.
Skattebo has 1,001 rushing yards on the season for Arizona State and 404 receiving yards. He has 11 rushing touchdown and two receiving touchdowns this season.
Needless to say, he’s a very important part of the Sun Devils’ offense and gives them a boost in their attempt to upset Kansas State on the road today.
More:Cam Skattebo’s return brings a boost for upset-minded Arizona State football team
The Sun Devils are going with their road white uniforms for their Big 12 college football game against Kansas today.
The Wildcats are wearing their purple home uniform.
Kansas State vs ASU:How to watch college football game Saturday
The game can be seen at 5 p.m. MST time on ESPN.
Dave Flemming (play-by-play) and Brock Osweiler (analyst) are scheduled to be the announcers for the Big 12 Conference game.
‘Stunningly impressive’:Arizona State football’s Kenny Dillingham praised for coaching job
Kansas State is a 7.5-point favorite over Arizona State in college football Week 12 odds for the game, according to BetMGM Sportsbook.
The Wildcats are -300 on the moneyline, while the Sun Devils are +240.
The over/under for the game is set at 51.5 points.
Arizona State football bowl projections:Pittsburgh, Army, Ole Miss projected opponents
ESPN gives Kansas State a 74.5% chance to defeat ASU football in the Week 12 college football game today.
Other sites are also leaning toward the Wildcats in the Big 12 showdown.
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