In an athletic feat that's shaking up the collegiate sports world, Arizona State University's football squadron has stomped their way through naysayers to clinch the Big 12 championship title. Confirming their Cinderella story, the Sun Devils from the desert blasted through Iowa State with a commanding 45-19 victory at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. This comes after the Sun Devils were initially picked to trail behind the pack in their first year in the new conference, as reported by ABC15.
The headline-maker for the Sun Devils was undoubtedly Cam Skattebo, who carved up the field with 170 yards and a pair of touchdowns on the ground, complemented by a touchdown reception. In a statement obtained by FOX10 Phoenix, the performance was so riveting that it prompted Skattebo to strike a Heisman Trophy pose not once, but twice during the romp. Played out before an audience that was rooting for their every underdog move, the team with their 34-year-old head coach Kenny Dillingham, will now stride into the 12-team College Football Playoff.
Arizona State's victory signals more than just an athletic triumph; it underlines a monumental eight-win improvement from last season, setting a new school record on their way to the first outright conference title since 1996. "The eight-win improvement is a school record — the previous was five," noted FOX10 Phoenix. It's an underdog story ripe for college football lore as the Sun Devils upended preseason predictions by claiming a dominant spot in their inaugural Big 12 outing after a dismal 3-9 final season in the Pac-12.
Iowa State, meanwhile, has the consolation of securing its first-ever 10-win season amidst its 133-year program history. Even with the impressive season record and the early lead, the Cyclones were ultimately overwhelmed by Arizona State's onslaught. According to an ABC15 interview, Skattebo's mother Becky offered insights into her son's gritty childhood, shedding light on the character of a player who has come to embody the fighting spirit of the Sun Devils on the field.
With their sights now set beyond the conference, Arizona State will have to bide their time until Sunday to discover their next challenger in the College Football Playoff, a detail confirmed by both ABC15 and FOX10 Phoenix.
