Completed Event: Football versus #17 Kansas State on August 23, 2025 , Win , 24, to, 21
Final
Football
24
#17 Kansas State
21
Iowa State University Athletics
Saturday, December 7
Arlington, Texas
11:00 AM
Iowa State University
vs
Arizona State
Big 12 Championship Primer: No. 16 Iowa State vs. No. 12 Arizona State
12.03.2024 | Football
AMES, Iowa -Â No. 16 Iowa State makes its second appearance in the Dr Pepper Big 12 Championship game Saturday when it faces No. 12 Arizona State for the first time. The Cyclones, winners of three straight, and Sun Devils are set to kick off at AT&T Stadium at 11 a.m. on ABC.
Who: No. 16 Iowa State (10-2, 7-2 Big 12) vs. No. 12 Arizona State (10-2, 7-2 Big 12)
Where:Â Arlington, Texas -Â AT&T Stadium (84,523)
When:Â Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024 -Â 11 a.m.Â
TICKETS
The Links
WATCH:Â ABC
PxP: Joe Tessitore; Analyst: Jesse Palmer; Sideline: Katie George
LISTEN: Cyclone Radio Network – Varsity App, TuneIn Radio or Radio Affiliates
PxP: John Walters; Analyst: Eric Heft; Sideline: Ryan Harklau
LIVE STATS
IOWA STATE GAME NOTES
2024 FOOTBALL YEARBOOK
MEDIA CENTER
TEN OF 'EM
Iowa State reached 10 wins for the first time in the program's 133-year history when it defeated Kansas State at home last weekend. The Cyclones are looking to win their first conference championship since 1912, one of two conference titles in school history (the other being 1911).
INSIDE THE SERIES
First Meeting
Overall:Â 0-0
Home:Â 0-0
Road:Â 0-0
Neutral:Â 0-0
Campbell vs. ASU:Â 0-0
Last Meeting:Â N/A
ISU-ASU NOTES
- Iowa State and Arizona State meet for the first time in the programs' history and it comes in the Dr Pepper Big 12 Championship game.
- ISU has just one player from the state of Arizona (Dylan Lee), but perhaps its most notable football alum, Brock Purdy, hails from the state. Purdy grew up in Gilbert, Arizona and attended Perry High School. Purdy holds nearly every Iowa State passing record.
- Iowa State offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser is from Chandler, Arizona. He attended Basha High School where he played linebacker, kicker, defensive end and tight end.
- As far as the state of Texas goes, ISU has seven players on its roster from the Lone Star State.
- Arizona State University President Michael Crow is a 1977 graduate of Iowa State and was on the ISU faculty as a professor from 1988-91. He was a member of the Cyclone track & field team from 1975-77, as a javelin thrower.
CYCLONES AT THE BIG 12 CHAMPIONSHIP
Saturday marks Iowa State's second championship game appearance in program history. ISU played in the 2020 Big 12 Championship when COVID reduced the capacity and Cyclone fans were largely shut out of attending the contest at AT&T Stadium.
In that game, No. 8 Iowa State started slow and rallied late, but ultimately fell to No. 12 Oklahoma, 27-21. The Sooners led 24-7 at halftime before the Cyclone defense clamped down and forced OU to punt on its first five drives of the second half. Breece Hall rushed for two second-half touchdowns as the Cyclones fell short of their first Big 12 title.
You can read the full recap from that game, here.
OTHER KEY STORYLINES
- The Cyclones are bowl eligible for the seventh time in nine seasons under Matt Campbell.
- Campbell became ISU's winningest football coach earlier this season, surpassing Dan McCarney's previous mark. He is in his ninth season leading the program, the third-longest tenured coach in ISU history and tied for the third-longest active tenure in the Big 12 Conference. In school history, only McCarney (1995-2006) and Clay Stapleton (1958-67) enjoyed longer tenures. Campbell owns 50.6 Â percent of ISU's all-time Big 12 wins (45-of-89).
- Rocco Becht has thrown a TD pass in 16-straight games, the longest streak in school history. He is also just the fifth QB in school history to pass for 6,000 career yards. Becht has led the Cyclones to 17 wins the last two seasons, the best two-year stretch in program history.
- Becht has one of the best wide receiving duos in college football at his disposal in Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel. Together, they are the first duo in school history and the only pair nationally with 1,000 receving yards each this season.
- First-year offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser has the offense clicking. ISU is averaging 31.2 points (fifth-most in school history) and topped 30 points in five of nine Big 12 games. With Becht finding Higgins and Noel at a record clip, ISU is averaging 258.0 passing yards per game.
- ISU's defense, under Jon Heacock's direction, is first in the Big 12 and ranks 18th nationally allowing just 19.6 points per game. It is the fewest points allowed by a Cyclone defense since 2005. Its passing defense has been stout, yielding just 156.9 yards per game (third nationally). ISU has held a nation's best four opponents to under 100 yards passing. In seven games, opponents have had less than 100 yards either rushing or passing.
- The Cyclone defense has a +9 turnover margin, which ranks among the top 20 nationally. Seven different Cyclones have combined for 14 interceptions to rank among the nation's top 20.
SCOUTING ARIZONA STATE
Led by second-year head coach Kenny Dillingham, Arizona State has put together an outstanding 2024 season with a 10-2 record, including a 7-2 mark in league play, after being picked last in the Big 12 preseason poll.
The Sun Devils average 32.1 points and 419.8 yards per game while allowing opponents 21.5 points and 336.6 yards per game. ASU's offense is well-balanced, averaging 195 rushing yards and 224.8 passing yards per game.Â
The Cyclones are no strangers to playing in close games, but neither are the Sun Devils. Arizona State is 5-0 in games decided by seven points or less (2nd most wins in FBS) and 6-1 in one-score games overall.
On offense, the Sun Devils are led by one of the best running backs in college football in Cam Skattebo. He ranks eighth nationally with 1,398 rushing yards and is the only FBS player with 1,200-plus rushing yards and 450-plus receiving yards this season. Quarterback Sam Leavitt poses a threat with his arm as well as his feet with 2,444 passing yards and 350 rushing yards this season. He has thrown 21 touchdowns compared to five interceptions.
On the defensive side of the ball, defensive back Xavion Alford has allowed just seven receptions this season, the fourth-fewest in the FBS, in over 400 snaps in coverage. Opponents have chosen to throw his way on just four percent of coverage snaps, the third-lowest total among all FBS players. Defensive back Myles Rowser is ASU's leading tackler with 87 tackles, including 3.5 for loss and a sack, this season.
| TEAM COMPARISON | ||
| ISU | Stat | ASU |
| 31.2 | Points Per Game | 32.1 |
| 19.6 | Points Allowed Per Game | 21.5 |
| 1,975 (164.6) | Rushing Yards (Avg. Per Game) | 2,340 (195.0) |
| 3,096 (258.0) | Passing Yards (Avg. Per Game) | 2,698 (224.8) |
| 422.6 | Total Offense | 419.8 |
| 330.6 | Total Defense | 336.6 |
| 29.3 | Penalty Yards Per Game | 53.1 |
| +9 | Turnover Margin | +11 |
| 85% (47-55) | Red Zone Scores | 76% (35-46) |
| 62% (34-55) | Red Zone Touchdowns | 65% (30-46) |
WEEKLY MEDIA AVAILABILITY
Head coach Matt Campbell, Jon Heacock, Jaylin Noel, Jayden Higgins, Jalen Travis, Tyler Onyedim and Jontez Williams met with the media Tuesday. Watch their interviews below.
Players Mentioned
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