Last year, Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham called Utah the “gold standard” of the Pac-12. Even this week he called Utah the model for what he aims to instill in his football program.
Yet, with a revamped squad in 2024, the Sun Devils looked more like the model than even the Utes in a monumental 27-19 upset victory for ASU.
From the very first snap, Utah aimed to establish the tempo of the game: a slow, grind-it-out affair that featured a heavy dosage of running the football and controlling the clock.
However, on the ground –where the Utes usually dominate– the Sun Devils held serve, even finishing with more rushing yards (176) than Utah (140).
Star senior running back Cam Skattebo accounted for most of the production with 158 rushing yards.
When the Sun Devils needed him most in the fourth quarter, Skattebo came through with a 21-yard over-the-shoulder catch to move the chains on third down. Then, he proceeded to scamper home for a 47-yard touchdown run to put the Sun Devils up by eight and help ice out an ASU win.
Dear @DoakWalkerAward,
— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) October 12, 2024
Please be aware that Cam Skattebo of @ASUFootball is an absolute freak. Thank you.#Big12FB | 📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/q0aEs3v3io
“Coach Dillingham says big-time players make big-time plays,” Skattebo said. “I tell him to give me the ball every play. Sam (Leavitt) trusted me and we called the play that we knew was going to work.”
But it took more than just a heroic effort from Skattebo to pull off the upset. The Sun Devils played complementary football by creating turnovers and enforcing a bend but don’t break style of defense.
Senior linebacker Caleb McCullough stepped up in the absence of junior linebacker Keyshaun Elliot who missed the first half due to a targeting ejection last week.
McCullough snagged two interceptions including the game-sealing pick in the fourth quarter.
“It means a whole lot,” McCullough said. “I put in a lot of work to get in this position. I kept telling my family that one day I’m going to get my opportunity. And when I did get that opportunity the work I put in was going to show. Tonight it showed.”
The Sun Devils also exploited a hampered Utah starting quarterback in senior Cam Rising. He remained limited in his mobility and throwing ability due to various injuries.
Nonetheless, ASU needed timely stops in the red zone and on critical downs against a potent Utah rushing attack.
“If you want to beat Utah you have to win the margins,” Dillingham said. “They usually shorten the game and limit the game to around nine possessions… You have to win the turnover battle, you have to win the middle eight, and third and fourth down. We won the margins when it came to the red zone and that was really the difference in the football game.”
The win gives Dillingham his signature victory over a ranked opponent in just his second year at the helm of the program. It remains especially impressive that it occurred against the same team that embarrassed ASU in a 50-point loss last season.
“Last year’s Utah game was interesting to say the least,” Dillingham said. “It was not fun, but it’s a testament to our guys in terms of putting in the work. You can’t shortcut it… If you want to achieve something you have to care about it and put in the work.”
Additionally, the night culminates an impressive start to the season for Dillingham’s team who, despite being picked to finish last in the Big 12 preseason media poll, sit at 5-1 through the first six weeks.
“It shows that we’re trending in the right direction and that what we’re doing is working,” Dillingham said. “It takes a lot of commitment and an entire organization.”
ASU looks to carry their confidence and momentum on the road next Saturday, Oct. 19, when they try to become bowl-eligible against Cincinnati.
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