In a stunning turn of events, the Arizona State Sun Devils have secured a spot in the College Football Playoff after dominating Iowa State to win the Big 12. Their 45-19 victory included a 35-point scoring spree fueled by turnovers that propelled them to the conference championship. Led by standout running back Cam Skattebo, who ran for 170 yards and three touchdowns, Arizona State finished the season with an impressive 11-2 record.
This accomplishment comes after a tumultuous period for the Sun Devils, including a rocky tenure under former head coach Herm Edwards and NCAA investigations into recruiting violations. Despite facing a bowl ban in 2023 and probation, the team has rebounded under second-year head coach Kenny Dillingham, with Skattebo emerging as a Heisman Trophy candidate for his exceptional performance this season.
Looking ahead to the College Football Playoff seeding, Arizona State’s strong showing has put them in contention for a top-ranking, potentially positioning them to avoid facing top seeds in the first round. Dillingham has made the case for a bye given their 11-1 record with quarterback Sam Leavitt in the lineup, but their final ranking will depend on the outcomes of other conference championship games. Regardless, the Sun Devils’ unexpected rise from preseason underdogs to playoff contenders has been a remarkable achievement worth celebrating in college football.
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