Cam Skattebo rushed for 170 yards and accounted for three touchdowns as No. 15 Arizona State clinched a College Football Playoff spot with a 45-19 rout of No. 16 Iowa State on Saturday in the Big 12 title game at Arlington, Texas.
Skattebo rushed for two scores and also had a receiving touchdown for the Sun Devils (11-2), who won their sixth consecutive game. Sam Leavitt completed 12 of 17 passes for 219 yards and three touchdowns and also ran for a score for Arizona State.
Sun Devils star receiver Jordyn Tyson (left arm) missed the game but Xavier Guillory stepped up to make two touchdown catches.
The Sun Devils, who were picked to finish last as a newcomer in the 16-team Big 12, are hoping to land a first-round bye in the 12-team playoff. The conference was on the outside of the four byes as of Tuesday’s unveiling but the Atlantic Coast Conference title game result could provide an opening after Clemson defeated SMU.
Rocco Becht completed 21 of 35 passes for 214 yards, two touchdowns and one interception for the Cyclones (10-3), who saw their chances for a playoff spot come to an end. Jaylin Noel and Carson Hansen caught touchdown passes and Jayden Higgins had seven catches for 115 yards.
Skattebo ripped off a 28-yard gain on the first offensive play to set the tone. He later had runs of 42 and 53 yards and also scored on a 33-yard reception.
Skattebo scored on a 3-yard run to give the Sun Devils a 17-10 lead with 10:49 left in the first half. He had the 42-yard run on that drive.
Late in the half, the Sun Devils were back in their own end when Skattebo broke loose on the 53-yard scamper. He also ended the drive by scoring from the 2 to give Arizona State a 14-point lead with 27 seconds to go.
Iowa State’s chances of rallying disintegrated in the third quarter as Abu Sama twice lost fumbles and Becht was intercepted by Keith Abney II.
The Sun Devils scored on short drives of 43, 26 and 38 yards to put the game away.
Leavitt tossed touchdown passes of 8 and 21 yards to Guillory in a span of 71 seconds to make it 38-10. And Skattebo caught the short pass from Leavitt and turned it into a 33-yard score with 2:57 left in the third quarter.
Becht tossed a 25-yard touchdown pass to Noel with 7:27 left in the contest.
–Field Level Media
