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    • ASU jumps to a big lead against BYU in the important Big 12 Conference game
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    ASU jumps to a big lead against BYU in the important Big 12 Conference game

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    The Arizona State football team continues its 2024 schedule today with a Big 12 Conference matchup against BYU.

    Follow our live updates from the game, which will be played at Mountain America Stadium in Tempe, for the latest score, news, notes and analysis from Saturday’s Week 13 college football game between the Sun Devils and the Cougars.

    Arizona State defeated Kansas State 24-14 last week. BYU lost to Kansas 17-13.

    ASU football is 8-2 overall and 5-2 in Big 12 play. BYU is 9-1 overall and 6-1 in conference play.

    The Sun Devils have a 20-8 all-time lead, but BYU has won three straight games against ASU, including a 27-17 win in 2021 in Provo, Utah. This is their first meeting as Big 12 Conference rivals.

    The ‘Middle Eight’ again

    A philosophy popularized by coach Bill Belichick, the term refers to the last four minutes of the first half and the first four of the second half. Kenny Dillingham and his team have embraced this philosophy and attack this part of the game every week. The aim is to score before getting the ball back in the second half. And it happened again when Skattebo scored his third touchdown of the game on a 3rd and 1, taking the ball 23 yards to go up 21-0.

    ASU is in control of this game.

    Score: Arizona State 21, BYU 0 (1:53 left in second quarter)

    The deception works

    ASU coach Kenny Dillingham dug deep into the pocket of tricks and delivered a surprise onside kick after scoring, making the lead 14-0. It was a short kick aimed at the front row and BYU was caught off guard. Plas Johnson came up with the fumble recovery. It’s the first successful onside kick for ASU since 2017. A brilliant move from a coach sensing a momentum shift.

    Arizona State takes over at the 50-yard line with 4:28 left in the second quarter, with a chance to extend the lead to 21-0.

    ASU builds on its lead with another TD from Cam Skattebo

    Skattebo caps the long drive with a four-yard touchdown run, his second of the game. The Sun Devils, who started at their 5-yard line, entered the red zone after a huge 54-yard reception by Jordyn Tyson. It was a 12-play, 95-yard drive that lasted 6:50.

    Score: Arizona State 14, BYU 0 (4:29 left in second quarter)

    The defense comes up big again and forces a kick

    After the ASU interception, the BYU offense couldn’t do much. The Cougars gained only 19 yards on 7 plays and were forced to punt. ASU takes over at its own 5-yard line at the 11:19 mark of the second quarter.

    Déjà vu as BYU comes up with a tipped pass for an interception

    Just after BYU turned the ball over on a tipped pass, so did ASU. Sam Leavitt’s pass was tipped at the line of scrimmage and intercepted by Tanner Wall. It’s Leavitt’s first turnover in the last three games. BYU takes over at its own 35-yard line with 14:49 left in the second quarter. The Cougars tied for the top of the NCAA interception list.

    Tip drill! ASU gets the interception

    Just like last week against Kansas State, the ASU defense comes up with a tipped interception. Defensive end Prince Dorbah tipped BYU’s Jake Retzlaff’s pass at the line of scrimmage and linebacker Jordan Crook came up with the interception. Last week, Shamari Simmons tapped the pass and it was caught by Xavion Alford.

    ASU takes over at the 35 yard line with 2:22 left in the first quarter.

    ASU benefits from excellent field position and the scores go up early

    After getting the ball near midfield, the Sun Devils quickly marched down the field to establish an early 7-0 lead on a 3-yard run by Cam Skattebo. A big run from Skattebo started the drive, who had 7 carries for 44 yards. The touchdown continues a trend for ASU this season, which has been huge in terms of its push to start games.

    It was a 10-play, 54-yard scoring drive that lasted 4:48. An ideal start for the Sun Devils.

    Score: Arizona State 7, BYU 0 (6:41 left in first quarter)

    ASU forces a turnover after BYU’s first drive

    The Sun Devil defense comes out on top and forces a turnover on downs from the BYU offense to open the game. The defense held strong after an offside penalty and giving up a third down conversion. ASU takes over at its own 46 yard line.

    ASU vs BYU game broadcast on ESPN

    The game will now air on ESPN. ASU won the toss and advanced to the second half.

    Ticket prices remain high

    Despite the sellout, ASU-BYU tickets can be found on the secondary market at sites like StubHub and SeatGeek.

    However, those chairs remained an expensive option.

    Minutes before kickoff on SeatGeek, the cheapest price for a single ticket for the match was $266, including fees, while a pair cost $281 each.

    Contract extensions for Marcus Arroyo, Brian Ward

    The day started well for the ASU football program. ASU offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo and defensive coordinator Brian Ward have each received three-year contract extensions, athletics director Graham Rossini confirmed to The Arizona Republic.

    “We have been working on this,” Rossini told The Republic. “Everyone is in on it. The administration and Dr. Crow are all in, the boosters are all in. The community is behind this. We’ve been working to build a war chest to make this happen. This is an important step for everyone to see the dedication to this program.”

    With the Sun Devils in the midst of the best season in recent memory, the extensions signal a serious intent by school officials to continue to grow the football program.

    What’s at stake today in the ASU football vs. BYU game?

    What’s at stake in Tempe today?

    Everything.

    This is essentially an elimination game for ASU. A loss would knock the Sun Devils out of the hunt for the Big 12 Conference championship, ending their hopes of making the College Football Playoff.

    ASU (8-2 overall, 5-2 Big 12) is tied for third in the conference. BYU (9-1, 6-1) sits atop the Big 12.

    Colorado (8-2, 6-1) is second in the Big 12. Colorado plays today against Kansas, which defeated BYU last week. Iowa State (8-2, 5-2) is tied with ASU. The Cyclones face Utah today.

    ASU closes the regular season next week on the road against Arizona in the Territorial Cup. BYU hosts Houston next week.

    This is the biggest game for ASU in a decade.

    Uniforms: What ASU and BYU are wearing today

    The Sun Devils wear their maroon jerseys with yellow pants. The helmet is a throwback with Sparky as the main logo and a white face mask. According to ASU Uniformity, this is the first time ASU has worn this helmet since 1995.

    BYU has a classic look with their white road uniforms with blue pants.

    Desmond Howard, College GameDay highlight ASU

    After ESPN college football analyst Desmond Howard questioned why the College GameDay crew was asked to make picks on ASU’s game against Kansas State, his tone was much different this week.

    “Last week,” Howard said, “when we were doing the selection, I was jokingly talking about ‘Why are we picking Arizona State versus Kansas State?’ Boy, did I discover how great Arizona State is…they had two losses, but they were off everyone’s radar.”

    Even living legend Nick Saban – who won seven national titles as a coach – also joined in, praising coach Kenny Dillingham and his motto, “Activate the Valley.”

    “When your team buys into something like Coach Dillingham said, ‘Activate the Valley’ … it reminds me of our team last year,” Saban said. “That became a rallying cry. ‘Activate the Valley’ is kind of their rallying cry, and when teams come in… you never know what can happen.”

    Watch BYU vs ASU football live on FUBO (free trial)

    How to watch ASU football vs. BYU game

    The game will air on ESPN at 1:30 PM MST time.

    Dave Pasch (play-by-play) and Dusty Dvoracek (analyst) will be the announcers for the Big 12 Conference game.

    Arizona State vs BYU tickets: Prices rise for Big 12 college football game Saturday

    Arizona State vs. BYU football game odds

    According to BetMGM Sportsbook, ASU is a 3-point favorite over BYU in the Week 13 college football odds.

    The Sun Devils are -160 on the moneyline. The Cougars are +135.

    The over/under for the game is set at 48.5 points.

    Who wins the game? Arizona State vs. BYU picks, predictions, odds

    BYU vs. ASU football predictions

    ESPN today gives Arizona State a 55.8% chance to beat BYU football in the Week 13 college football game.

    The Big 12 picks and predictions from other sites for the game think it will be an exciting matchup between the Sun Devils and Cougars.

    More: ASU football’s Kenny Dillingham could go from ‘worst coach’ in the Big 12 to Coach of the Year

    Pregame lecture for the Arizona State Football vs. Brigham Young game

    ‘Don’t get lost in the sauce:’ ASU focuses on BYU, not Big 12 Championship Game scenarios

    Cam ‘Skatteburger’ debuts at Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers, except in Tucson

    Arizona State standouts earn Big 12 honors after a win over No. 16 Kansas State

    Assessing ASU’s stunner at Kansas State as the next big home game against BYU looms

    Arizona State football keeps Kansas State in the Big 12 Conference Championship race

    Arizona State and Kansas State fans are rejecting Desmond Howard’s ‘disrespectful’ Big 12 game choice

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    Logan Stanley is a sports reporter at The Arizona Republic, focusing primarily on high school, ASU and Olympic sports. To suggest ideas for human interest stories and other news, contact Stanley at [email protected] or 707-293-7650. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @LSscribe.

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