ASU head coach Kenny Dillingham hadn't entertained the possible outcomes needed to clinch a Big 12 title appearance to the media for his Sun Devils before the Territorial Cup.
After the win, he was informed of what needed to happen for his team to make the big game. A TCU win was one of the singular things that needed to happen for ASU to make it. The team bus was stuck in traffic, and Dillingham watched TCU defeat Cincinnati, which punched ASU's ticket to Arlington, Texas. Dillingham shared the news with the bus, and the celebration commenced.
From being projected to finish last in the conference to competing for a championship, the work was all worth it.
"I made an announcement to the guys that we're in the Big 12 title," Dillingham said. "They were pretty fired up, and it didn't matter the opponent we were going to play. The whole goal was to get there, and that's all we could control."
Passion and effort have guided ASU this season. Dillingham may be young, but he's been a part of multiple college programs in his career. He is proud to be a part of this team, this bond and this connection within the locker room.
"The work they put into the relationships they have with one another is unique," Dillingham said. "In an era where there are different motives than there used to be, I think our guys' motive (is) winning."
That nature of competitiveness has led the Sun Devils to their final challenge, a boss fight in the Big 12 gauntlet against the Iowa State Cyclones.
Dillingham said the biggest challenge they face against the Cyclones is physicality.
"Put a fullback in, put a tight end into the boundary, and we're going to run toss G lead on first-and-10," Dillingham said in reference to Iowa State. "If you load the box, (there are) two big 1,000-yard wideouts. We're going to throw it too. Play one high; we throw to these guys. Play two high; we're going to run G lead right at you and do it again and again."
Those two big-play receivers are seniors Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel. Higgins has 80 receptions for 1,068 yards, while Noel has 67 for 1,013 yards. Both have combined for 15 receiving touchdowns on the year.
The man slinging them those yards through the air is sophomore quarterback Rocco Becht. Becht has had an impressive year, throwing 3,021 yards and 20 touchdowns. 69% of his yardage has come through two players, two targets the ASU defense will have highlighted.
"They're hell of players (Higgins and Noel)," sophomore defensive back Keith Abney II said. "To have two 1,000-yard receivers, it's not easy, so I feel like it's going to be a hard-fought game. We just got to come out there and play technical, play scrappy, play fast, play physical. Just come out there and just trust our technique and the defense."
The Iowa State defense engages in that same mindset. The unit is ranked as the third-best passing defense in the country, and ASU is already without redshirt sophomore receiver Jordyn Tyson for the matchup. The Sun Devils may rely on their 24th-ranked rushing attack to produce some offense which may bode well for them as Iowa State's rushing defense is ranked 96th in the country.
READ MORE: Jordyn Tyson to miss Big 12 championship game with upper-body injury
Regardless, ASU offensive coordinator Marcus Arroyo will have to find a way to replace the amount of production Tyson was responsible for.
"Shows a true testament to who he is as a coach," graduate receiver Melquan Stovall said. "Smart-minded, he's going to create matchups to get guys the ball."
Iowa State has forced 21 total turnovers this season. One player who helps in that category is senior defensive back Darien Porter.
Porter is a significant factor in the Cyclones' top passing defense. He ranks as the fifth-best corner in FBS with a 90.2 coverage grade on PFF. He's only been targeted 16 times in 389 snaps this year and has three interceptions in those targets.
"You see the type of edge that he plays with hunger, passion, he's flying around all the time," Stovall said.
Edited by Henry Smardo, Abigail Beck and Madeline Schmitke.
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Daniel is a senior studying sports journalism. This is his first semester with The State Press. He has also worked at WCSN, OC Riptide, 1550 Sports and AZPreps365.
