FROM WORST TO FIRST 

ARLINGTON, Texas — Arizona State star running back Cam Skattebo has yet to play his final collegiate game.

Regardless, that didn’t stop him from delivering what could be appropriately deemed some long-awaited parting shots following Saturday’s Big 12 Championship game versus No. 16 Iowa State.

“I’ve been disrespected my whole life,” Skattebo told reporters. “I’ve always been the underdog. Nobody respects the fact that I’m the best running back in the country. I’m going to stand on that. If people want to disrespect that, I’m going to keep going and proving people wrong.”

To his credit, Skattebo not only played with a massive chip on his shoulder in arguably the Sun Devils’ grandest outing of the season, but it’s safe to assume he earned some widespread respect amongst the 870 Heisman trophy media voters in the process.

The speedy, 5-foot-11, 217-pound senior generated 208 all-purpose yards (170 rushing and 38 receiving) and three touchdowns on just 18 touches to help add to what has been a banner year for No. 15 Arizona State, which routed Iowa State, 45-19, to claim the school’s first conference crown in 17 years.

An announced crowd of 55,889 at AT&T Stadium turned out to witness the upstart Sun Devils (11-2) erase the memory of last year’s 3-9 campaign and punch their ticket to the newly-expanded College Football Playoffs by thoroughly dispatching a Cyclone team that was left playing for pride near the midway point of the third quarter.

Arizona State entered Saturday’s game with a 45 percent chance to make the playoffs, according to ESPN’s Playoff Predictor. The Sun Devils are now projected to secure a first-round bye as the No. 4 seed. 

By all accounts, it was mostly Skattebo, the game’s Most Outstanding Player, who made his presence felt for an Arizona State squad that seized its sixth consecutive win.

Having entered Saturday’s game as a +20000 in odds to win the Heisman, according to DraftKings Sportsbook, Skattebo saved arguably his most complete performance of the season for Saturday’s conference championship, scoring on TD runs of 3 and 2 yards.

His final score came after he fielded a Sam Leavitt pass in the left flat and raced 33 yards for a touchdown to cap a 35-0 run and help extend the Sun Devils’ lead to 45-10 with 3:05 remaining in the third quarter.

While Skattebo appears to be a long shot to come away with college football’s most covenant award next weekend, that didn’t merely stop him from striking that famous celebratory pose in his latest outing.

On three separate occasions, for the record.

“I didn’t it see,” Leavitt said of Skattebo post-scoring gestures. “I mean, I’d say (he’s the Heisman frontrunner). Why wouldn’t he be? Y’all see what he does on the biggest stage, under the biggest lights, getting the ball and getting positive yards, and he puts us in the best position as an offense.”

That was evident from the outset on Saturday.

Skattebo wasted little time taking over this game, breaking free for a 28-yard scamper on the game’s opening play, which ultimately led to a Carston Kieffer 32-yard field goal and a 3-0 Sun Devil lead.

The Cyclones (10-3) would respond on their opening possession, manufacturing an 11-play, 75-yard drive to take a 7-3 lead when quarterback Rocco Becht tossed a 3-yard scoring pass to Carsen Hansen.

After Leavitt capped a seven-play, 75-yard drive with a 3-yard TD run and Iowa State’s Kyle Konrardy connected on a 36-yard field goal to tie it at 10, Skattebo and Co. regained control, scoring 35 unanswered points — 21 of which were accumulated off of turnovers by the opposition — to effectively put the game of reach.

By intermission with Arizona State in front, 24-10, Skattebo had seemingly increased his Heisman odds, having amassed 140 yards on 28 carries and two rushing scores — coupled with a familiar pose.

“I don’t know how many yards I have this season, but (my offensive line) is the reason for it,” Skattebo said. “Even being in the Heisman talk is awesome, and those are the reasons. That’s the reason. Those guys up front. And I just want to keep spreading love to those guys because they deserve it.”

After a first half in which Arizona State outgained the Cyclones, 317-194, the opportunistic Sun Devils blew the game open midway through the third quarter, thanks in large part to Iowa State turnovers on three consecutive possessions.

After Abu Sama was stripped of the ball that was recovered by Arizona State’s Javon Robinson at Cyclone 43, the Sun Devils extended their lead to 31-10 when Leavitt tossed an 8-yard touchdown pass to Xavier Guillory, culminating an 11-play, 43-yard drive.

Becht was then intercepted by Keith Abney on the Cyclones’ next possession at their own 26. Two plays later, Leavitt hooked up with Guillory again, this time on a 21-yard scoring strike to make it 38-10 with 6:27 remaining in the third.

The Sun Devils’ final score came three plays after Shamari Simmons recovered a second fumble by Sama minutes before the Sun Devil defensive back was ejected for targeting after a brutal hit on Becht at the 14:54 mark of the fourth.

By game’s end, Skattebo not only assessed his current status in the 2025 NFL Draft, but he offered more parting shots regarding his case for the Heisman. 

Never mind he has yet to play his final collegiate game.

“Whatever NFL team takes me is going to get a gem,” said Skattebo, who is projected to be taken somewhere between the fourth and fifth rounds, according to various draft experts. “I’ll give everything I’ve got for them. Whether winning or losing the Heisman, I should still be in that situation.”

Enough said.

WW–EXCELLENT ENDING 

Andre Johnson is the award-winning Founder/Publisher & Editor In Chief of Making Headline News. A 2000 graduate of the University of Memphis School of Journalism and a former reporter of sports for the Memphis Commercial Appeal newspaper, Johnson primarily covers the NBA, NFL, and college football. To reach Johnson, call him at 901-690-6587 or send email to [email protected]. Also, follow him on Twitter @AJ_Journalist.

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