TEMPE, Ariz. – In a thrilling finish, Arizona State University’s football team capped off an undefeated home schedule with a dramatic 28-23 win over BYU on Saturday. With less than two minutes left in the game, BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff’s pass intended for Darius Lassiter sailed high and was intercepted by Sun Devil cornerback Javan Robinson. The key turnover halted the Cougars’ comeback hopes and set up a tense final minute.
ASU, leading 28-23, was unable to convert a first down on their next possession, turning the ball over on downs with just one second remaining. BYU had one final shot with a Hail Mary attempt from their 49-yard line, but Retzlaff’s heave fell short, sealing the Sun Devils’ victory and preserving their perfect home record at 6-0 for the first time since 2004.
“It’s about the guys,” ASU head coach Kenny Dillingham said after the game. “These guys battled. They fought. They found a way to win. And we got to rush the field twice. How about that? We rushed the field three times this year. That’s pretty cool. Not many people get the chance to do that. We’re building something special here at Arizona State, and there’s more to come.”
The Sun Devils looked unstoppable in the first half, building a 21-3 lead behind a standout performance from Cam Skattebo. The junior running back racked up 147 yards and three touchdowns, marking his fifth game this season with over 100 rushing yards. His trio of touchdowns — including two short-yardage runs and a 23-yard scamper — helped ASU dominate early.
“The boys, they fought every day,” Skattebo said postgame. “We go back to the summer workouts and everybody fights every single day. We didn’t blink out there when they started scoring points and we weren’t. We came back, scored a touchdown, got a comfortable lead and then they scored again. So we just keep fighting. These guys have a lot of heart … The culture’s changed and everybody loves each other. We’ve turned this thing around, but it’s not finished yet because there’s still work to do in the process.”
Despite a strong start by ASU, the Cougars made adjustments at halftime and started chipping away at the lead. BYU responded with two touchdowns in the second half, including a 10-yard end-around score by Keelan Marion and a 21-yard reception by Jojo Phillips. A one-yard punch by Marion made it 28-23, but the Sun Devils’ defense held firm when it mattered most.
Quarterback Drew Leavitt, who connected with Jordyn Tyson nine times for 125 yards, also played a key role. He found Xavier Guillory for a 61-yard touchdown that gave ASU a 28-9 lead, their largest of the game. Leavitt finished with 247 yards on 16-for-25 passing.
The Sun Devil defense, which held BYU to just 25 rushing yards in the first half, was also instrumental in keeping the Cougars from completing their comeback. The Cougars’ offense, led by Retzlaff, struggled to find rhythm in the opening half, with the Sun Devils stifling their passing game to just 89 yards.
“Great environment, great atmosphere,” said BYU head coach Kalani Sitake. “Arizona State came out with a great start, and they’ve got a well-coached team. They’ve got great weapons on offense, and that defense doesn’t get enough credit. They were ready, and we couldn’t overcome that.”
With the win, Arizona State improves to 6-2 in Big 12 play, guaranteeing at least a tie for second place in the conference. The Sun Devils’ final regular-season game will take them across the state for a rivalry matchup against Arizona on Saturday, Nov. 30. Kickoff time is still to be announced.
Cover photo via Sun Devil Football on X.com
