Kanye Udoh scores for 1st time as Sun Devil, ASU falls to Mississippi State despite running rhythm

Running back Kanye Udoh arrived in a big way to punctuate a gashing drive when Arizona State found its rhythm on the ground at Mississippi State on Saturday.

After going into the half down 17-3, the Sun Devils opened the second half with a drive of eight straight runs after Sam Leavitt had a poor first half throwing the ball, and it was Udoh pushing the pile forward for ASU’s first touchdown of the day.

.@KanyeUdoh6 with his first touchdown as a Sun Devil 🫡

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— Sun Devil Football (@ASUFootball) September 7, 2025

The score brought ASU within seven after the lopsided first half. Jordyn Tyson then tied the game early in the fourth quarter with a two-yard touchdown on fourth-and-1. ASU would pull ahead on a field goal inside of the last two minutes before giving up the loss on a clutch touchdown and interception for a 24-20 loss.

Getting it done on fourth down 🫡

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— Sun Devil Football (@ASUFootball) September 7, 2025

Udoh rushed for 22 yards in three carries over the final four plays of his scoring drive, with Leavitt rushing for the other yardage. The back closed with 105 yards on 23 carries.

Udoh had just two carries in his ASU debut against NAU, but he made the most of them with 19 yards.

Raleek Brown had key runs of 15 and 11 yards, respectively, earlier in the drive.

Kyson Brown, the third cog in the Sun Devils running backs room, “tweaked his ankle” after two carries and 11 yards in a hometown affair, according to coach Kenny Dillingham. His Week 3 status is unknown.

Dillingham said earlier in the week ASU wanted to get back to the run game as its identity.

“I think both of them played really well. I think (Kanye Udoh) when he got a few of his moments played well,” Dillingham said on Monday. “I think we’re going to try to get those three guys and continue to get them involved in the game plan because I thought they did play really well, all three of them.

“For the most part, they ran hard, they ran through tackles, positive runs. … Probably should have run more direct runs in the game plan to just get downhill and more of an identity.”

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