Oct 5, 2024; Tempe, Arizona, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback Sam Leavitt (10) against the Kansas Jayhawks in the first half at Mountain America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
Sam Leavitt threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Jordyn Tyson with 16 seconds left to give Arizona State a 35-31 victory over Kansas in Tempe, Arizona, on Saturday night, also capping a fourth quarter that featured five leadership changes.
The Sun Devils (4-1, 1-1 Big 12) won the program’s Big 12 home opener against a Kansas team that has lost five straight overall, with the Jayhawks (1-5, 0- 3) maintaining a fourth-quarter lead in four of those setbacks.
In Saturday’s game, Kansas took a 31-28 lead with 2:04 left on Jalon Daniels’ 34-yard touchdown pass to Quentin Skinner.
Arizona State then drove 75 yards in eight plays, a drive punctuated by Leavitt’s winning touchdown pass to Tyson.
Kansas attempted a Hail Mary from the Arizona State 49-yard line as time expired, but Daniels’ pass was deflected by Xavion Alford in the end zone.
Leavitt completed 14 of 24 pass attempts for 157 yards with four touchdowns and one interception.
Cam Skattebo led an Arizona State rushing attack that totaled 313 yards, racking up 186 yards and a touchdown on 25 carries.
Daniels completed 18 of 31 passes for 260 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions.
Skinner caught six passes for 130 yards and two touchdowns.
Kansas was held to a 20-yard field goal by Tabor Allen, giving it a 17-14 lead, at the end of its first possession of the second half despite having a first and goal at the Kansas 4-yard line. Sun Devils after a targeting penalty.
Arizona State responded on the first play of the fourth quarter with a 1-yard touchdown run by Skattebo, who lined up in the wildcat formation.
Kansas responded quickly with a 31-yard touchdown run by Devin Neal with 10:49 left in the game, putting the visitors up 24-21.
The third lead change of the period occurred when Leavitt connected with Tyson on a 31-yard touchdown pass that gave the Sun Devils a 28-24 lead with 6:19 remaining.
–Field level media
