Arizona State secured a thrilling 35-31 victory over Kansas on Saturday night, thanks to a late 3-yard touchdown pass from Sam Leavitt to Jordyn Tyson. The Sun Devils, with a record of 4-1 in the Big 12, witnessed six lead changes in the second half, eventually outlasting the Jayhawks. Cam Skattebo’s 186 rushing yards, including a pivotal 39-yard sprint on the game-winning drive, played a significant role in the victory. Leavitt completed 14 of 24 passes for 157 yards during the game.
Kansas, with a record of 1-5, suffered their fifth consecutive loss, with four of those defeats being by a touchdown or less. Quarterback Jalon Daniels had a season-high of 260 passing yards and two touchdowns, while Devin Neal contributed with 71 rushing yards and a touchdown.
The game took place amid record-setting heat in Tempe, with a kickoff temperature of 107 degrees, marking the hottest October game in the city since 2000. Despite the challenging conditions, both teams put on an intense performance in front of a sellout crowd of 54,639 supporters.
Kansas briefly took a 31-28 lead with 2:04 remaining when Daniels connected with Quentin Skinner for his second touchdown of the night. However, Arizona State managed to drive 75 yards in less than two minutes, culminating in Leavitt’s game-winning touchdown pass to Tyson.
The physicality of the game led to ejections for Arizona State’s Keyshaun Elliott and Clayton Smith due to targeting fouls. As a consequence, the defensive players will miss the first half of the upcoming game against No. 18 Utah.
The victory serves as a significant boost for Arizona State under coach Kenny Dillingham, positioning them well for future challenges. On the other hand, Kansas continues to struggle with unmet expectations in a challenging season.
In upcoming matches, Kansas is scheduled to play at home against Houston on October 19, while Arizona State will host No. 18 Utah on Friday.
