Arizona State Upsets Kansas State 24-14, Keeps Big 12 Championship Hopes Alive
In a statement victory on the road, Arizona State stunned No. 20 Kansas State 24-14 on Saturday night, handing the Wildcats their second straight loss and remaining in the thick of the Big 12 title race. The Sun Devils (8-2, 5-2) entered Manhattan as underdogs, but Sam Leavitt’s 275-yard, three-touchdown performance and Jordyn Tyson’s monster game (12 catches, 176 yards, 2 TDs) helped Arizona State build an insurmountable 21-0 halftime lead. Despite a late rally by Kansas State, ASU held on for their third consecutive victory.
For Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham, this win was a testament to the growth of his team and a direct response to critics who doubted their legitimacy. "Everybody keeps saying, ‘Oh, there’s a reason they’re winning and it’s not because they’re good,’" Dillingham said after the game. "That has to bother you. This is the first week I really dove into that. I was pulling things out to show the guys for motivation this week. We really dove into people not believing in the football team, and not believing in the guys, and I think they responded."
Early Struggles for Kansas State
From the very beginning, Kansas State (7-3, 4-3, No. 16 CFP) was plagued by mistakes. Arizona State wasted no time capitalizing on the Wildcats’ miscues. On Kansas State's second offensive play, quarterback Avery Johnson threw an interception that set up the Sun Devils at the Wildcats’ 49-yard line. Leavitt wasted no time, finding Tyson for a 19-yard touchdown to give Arizona State an early 7-0 lead.
The Wildcats had no answers in the first half. After a turnover on downs, where Arizona State’s defense stuffed running backs Dylan Edwards and D.J. Giddens on consecutive carries, Kansas State’s offense continued to unravel. A fumble by Jayce Brown, a negated 67-yard touchdown reception due to an illegal block, and a botched first-and-goal at the Arizona State 5 all combined to leave the Wildcats scoreless at the break.
Meanwhile, Arizona State was firing on all cylinders. Leavitt continued to connect with Tyson, and Cam Skattebo, returning from injury, contributed 73 rushing yards, helping the Sun Devils maintain control. The half ended with the Arizona State players heading to the locker room amid boos from the home crowd, as Kansas State’s offense failed to capitalize on their opportunities.
Kansas State’s Late Rally Falls Short
Kansas State wasn’t about to go down without a fight, however. The Wildcats came out of the locker room with renewed energy. Johnson led a 10-play, 75-yard drive that culminated in a 1-yard touchdown run to cut Arizona State’s lead to 21-7 with 2:51 left in the third quarter. Kansas State followed up quickly, needing just 1:19 to score again, as Johnson found wide receiver Malik Knowles for a 32-yard touchdown. A successful two-point conversion brought the Wildcats within a touchdown, 21-15, with plenty of time left to mount a comeback.
But Arizona State’s offense was up to the task. Leavitt, calm under pressure, methodically moved the chains and picked up a couple of key first downs on a drive that chewed up clock and kept Kansas State from getting another shot. The Wildcats’ defense, which had been inconsistent all night, couldn’t get the necessary stop, and by the time Kansas State got the ball back, there was less than a minute remaining. Arizona State’s defense shut the door for good, securing the 24-14 victory.
A Bright Future for Arizona State
This win is a significant boost for Arizona State’s Big 12 championship aspirations. The Sun Devils were picked to finish last in the Big 12 but have defied expectations all season. With a strong finish to the regular season, including a crucial game next week against seventh-ranked BYU, Arizona State can still make a push for a spot in the conference title game.
While the Sun Devils have already exceeded expectations, the job is far from done. The BYU game next week is especially important, as the Cougars (who also sit ahead of Arizona State in the standings) are coming off their first loss of the season in an upset against Kansas. Arizona State will need another strong performance to keep their Big 12 dreams alive.
Kansas State’s Big 12 Hopes Diminish
For Kansas State, the loss to Arizona State was a gut punch to their Big 12 title hopes. The Wildcats had been rolling at home with a 4-0 record at Bill Snyder Family Stadium this season, but their performance Saturday night was riddled with errors. Avery Johnson, who has been a standout freshman for K-State, threw two costly interceptions and missed on several big plays. The Wildcats' inability to finish drives — especially in the red zone — ultimately doomed them in this contest.
The loss, coming on the heels of a disappointing second-half collapse against Houston the previous week, leaves Kansas State with a steep hill to climb. Their Big 12 title chances are effectively over unless they can win out and receive help from other teams in the standings.
Looking Ahead: BYU on the Horizon
Arizona State's thrilling win on Saturday sets the stage for a pivotal matchup against BYU next week. After their first loss of the season, BYU will be hungry for a bounce-back performance, but Arizona State has shown they can rise to the occasion. With their defense playing solid football and Leavitt and Tyson leading the offense, the Sun Devils are in a prime position to make a serious run at a Big 12 title.
Kansas State, on the other hand, will need to regroup and focus on closing out the season strong. With a talented roster and some tough lessons learned over the past two weeks, the Wildcats will have to quickly shake off the sting of this defeat and prepare for their remaining games.
As for Arizona State, they’ve proven they’re more than capable of surprising the conference. With another big game ahead, it looks like the Sun Devils are here to stay as one of the Big 12’s top contenders.
Final Score: Arizona State 24, Kansas State 14
Next Week: Arizona State vs. BYU (at home)
Kansas State vs. (TBD)
Cameron Williams
DiSportsPhotoAgency
Senior Writer
