Tuscon, AZ – Arizona State (10-2, 7-2) powered through its rivalry game against Arizona (4-8, 2-7) with a dominant 49-7 victory in the Territorial Cup on Saturday afternoon. The Sun Devils scored on their first four drives and built a commanding 35-0 lead by halftime, en route to their most impressive win of the season.
The win, combined with results around the Big 12 Conference, secured ASU’s spot in the Dr Pepper Big 12 Championship game, which will be held Saturday, Dec. 7, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Skattebo Shines Again Cam Skattebo was the standout performer, rushing for 177 yards and three touchdowns— all in the first half. His effort earned him the Bob Moran Most Valuable Player honors, and he nearly single-handedly powered ASU to 643 total yards of offense, its most since 2016. It was the second consecutive game in which Skattebo posted three first-half rushing touchdowns, making him the first-ever Big 12 player to achieve this feat against two different FBS programs.
Kyson Brown added 100 rushing yards and 31 receiving yards on just nine touches, marking the first time since 2017 that two Sun Devils (Skattebo and Brown) rushed for over 100 yards in the same game. Jordyn Tyson also had a huge impact, hauling in eight passes for 143 yards and a touchdown.
Leavitt, Bourguet Contribute Offensively Quarterback Sam Leavitt threw for 291 yards and three touchdowns, maintaining a perfect record of no interceptions in four of the last five games. Trenton Bourguet, a hometown hero, completed two passes for 71 yards, including a 64-yard touchdown to Derek Eusebio, who caught his first career touchdown.
Defense Stifles Wildcats ASU’s defense was equally impressive, holding Arizona to just 210 total yards and limiting All-American wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan to six catches for 68 yards. This marked the fewest yards of offense for the Wildcats since 2019.
Sun Devils Strike Early and Often ASU wasted no time getting on the scoreboard, taking a 7-0 lead with a 9-play, 75-yard drive capped by a 2-yard touchdown run by Skattebo. After forcing a punt, the Sun Devils quickly went 73 yards in five plays, with Skattebo scoring again to make it 14-0 by the end of the first quarter.
In the second quarter, ASU exploded for 21 points, including a quick 5-play, 70-yard drive that ended with a 22-yard touchdown reception by Chamon Metayer, making it 35-0 heading into halftime.
The Sun Devils continued to add to their lead in the second half, with Xavier Guillory catching a 31-yard touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter and Eusebio finishing off a 64-yard touchdown pass to make it 49-7.
Skattebo Named Big 12 Co-Offensive Player of the Week Following his dominant performance, Skattebo was named Big 12 Co-Offensive Player of the Week. His 177-yard, 3-touchdown outing was another chapter in an outstanding season, as he has now rushed for 175+ yards in three games. With 17 touchdowns this season, he is tied for the fourth-most in ASU history.
Noted for his toughness, Skattebo has earned widespread recognition, with former Alabama coach and current ESPN commentator Nick Saban calling him “rugged, tough” and a “great competitor.” His stellar performance has also put him in the Heisman Trophy conversation, with ESPN’s Max Olsen reporting that Skattebo’s season could land him a trip to New York for the Heisman ceremony.
Cover photo via Big-12 Twitter
