No. 16 Iowa State falls short in Big 12 title game again, this time with CFP at stake

ARLINGTON, Texas — Cam Skattebo ran for 170 yards and two scores while adding a touchdown catch as 12th-ranked Big 12 newcomer Arizona State beat No. 16 Iowa State, 45-19, in the conference championship game Saturday for a spot in the 12-team College Football Playoff.

The Sun Devils (11-2, No. 15 CFP), with their 34-year-old coach Kenny Dillingham, will be the only Big 12 team in the expanded playoff field after being the preseason pick to finish at the bottom of their new 16-team league. They have a six-game winning streak.

Iowa State (10-3, No. 16 CFP), which already had the first 10-win season in the program’s 133-year history, trailed 24-10 before turnovers in its own territory on its first three drives after halftime. Arizona State capitalized with freshman Sam Leavitt throwing touchdowns each time.

Xavier Guillory had TD catches of 8 and 21 yards in a 71-second span, and Skattebo turned a third-down swing pass into a 33-yard score for a 45-10 lead that he punctuated with his second Heisman Trophy pose of the day. Leavitt finished 12 of 17 passing for 219 yards.

Arizona State is guaranteed a playoff spot as one of the five highest-ranked conference champions but almost certainly will rank below Mountain West champion Boise State (12-1, No 10).

That would give the Broncos a first-round bye and send the Sun Devils on the road for a first-round game, much to the dismay of Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark, who, before the title game, re-emphasized his feelings about that.

Skattebo had a 28-yard run on the first offensive snap of the game. His TD runs were only 3 and 2 yards, but he had long, tackle-evading runs to open both of those drives. His 2,074 yards from scrimmage (1,568 rushing and 506 receiving) are a single-season school record.

There was a 47-yard run when he spun away at the line from defenders, then shrugged off another. Then, right before halftime, he had a 53-yard run, again after contact at the line before twisting and turning past chasing Cyclones.

Rocco Becht threw a touchdown in his 17th consecutive game for the Cyclones, including a 3-yarder to Carson Hansen on their opening drive for their only lead at 7-3. Becht completed 21 of 35 pass for 214 yards and two TDs.

Iowa State will find out Sunday its bowl destination, likely either the Alamo Bowl in San Antonio or the Pop Tarts Bowl in Orlando.