The Arizona State Sun Devils are the first 3-0 team in the Big 12 Conference and are also 3-0 for the first time since 2019.
In their first-ever meeting with Texas State, the Arizona State Sun Devils came back from down 21-7 to beat the Bobcats 31-28 on Thursday night in San Marcos.
The game started off well, as the Sun Devils scored on their first drive of the game, going 68 yards over 10 plays in 4:46, and taking a 7-0 lead on a one-yard rush from Cam Skattebo. But Texas State then scored touchdowns on three-straight drives to lead 21-7 in the second quarter.
However, in the final minutes of the second quarter, ASU scored a touchdown to make it a 21-14 game. And then, right before the half, Sam Leavitt led the Sun Devils down the field to tie the game. Leavitt connected with Xavier Guillory for 14 yards on a 4th & 2 at the Texas State 49 to extend the drive, which turned out to be the key play of the drive.
The third quarter was highlighted by defense, until the final minutes of the quarter when Texas State had a 66-yard drive to take a 28-21 lead. But that woke up the ASU offense as Cam Skattebo ran for a two-yard score, his second of the game.
And midway through the 4th quarter, a turnover changed the game. Texas State RB Ismail Mahdi fumbled the ball on the first play of the possession and ASU recovered it at Texas State’s 23-yard line. Then, ASU’s Ian Hershey kicked a 22-yard field goal to give ASU a 31-28 lead in the fourth quarter.
Arizona State finished off the game in Texas State territory. Cam Skattebo ran for 10 yards on 3rd & 8 at the Texas State 18 to allow ASU to run out the clock on Texas State in a 31-28 road win.
ASU’s last 3-0 start was under Herm Edwards in 2019, in a year the team finished 8-5 overall, including 4-5 in the Pac-12 South, which was good for third place. Arizona State is already closing in on their projected in total in Vegas of 4.5.
The Sun Devils start conference play next week at Texas Tech on Saturday, September 21st.
