Arizona State (7-2, 4-2 Big 12) will face off against No. 20 Kansas State (7-2, 4-2) on Saturday evening at 7 p.m. EST, with the game broadcasted live on ESPN.
Current odds from BetMGM favor Kansas State by 8.5 points, while the overall series has seen Arizona State hold a 5-1 advantage over the Wildcats.
In terms of playoff implications, this matchup is crucial, as both teams are entrenched in a competitive race within the Big 12. They join a cluster of four teams, all sporting a 4-2 conference record, and each holds a 7-2 overall standing, with the exception of West Virginia.
Trailing Colorado by one game and sitting two games behind undefeated BYU, the stakes are high, as only the top two teams will secure a spot in the conference championship game.
The game features a key individual battle: Arizona State freshman quarterback Sam Leavitt against Kansas State’s pass defense, which has shown vulnerability this season regarding passing yardage. Leavitt has been impressive, passing for 1,631 yards and recording 14 touchdowns against just four interceptions. Notably, he has excelled in the last two games, throwing six touchdown passes without an interception during victories over Oklahoma State and UCF.
Additional players to keep an eye on include Arizona State’s running back Cam Skattebo, who sat out last week due to an undisclosed injury but is expected to practice this week. Skattebo has 1,001 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns, plus 27 receptions for 404 yards and two additional scores.
For Kansas State, quarterback Avery Johnson’s first year as a starter has been marked by ups and downs; he faced a significant challenge two weeks ago in a loss to Houston where he completed 23 of 39 passes for 238 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions—his least favorable quarterback rating this season.
In terms of historical context, these teams have not clashed since the 2002 Holiday Bowl, which saw Kansas State emerge victorious. Before this bowl matchup, Arizona State had dominated their earlier encounters, winning all five previous games, dating back to their first meeting in November 1964 and the last regular-season matchup in September 1989.
The Sun Devils are enjoying their best start since 2014 when they also began the season 8-1. Leavitt’s standout performances of multiple games with three touchdown passes and no interceptions were last matched by Arizona State’s Jayden Daniels in 2019. Additionally, wide receiver Jordyn Tyson has been a key contributor with 448 receiving yards and five touchdown receptions over the last five games.
Kansas State comes into this game following its second bye of the season, and Johnson is close to reaching a milestone, just 108 yards shy of accumulating 2,000 passing yards for the season.