ASU can play to its strengths vs. Iowa State in Big 12 Championship

ASU football has heavily relied on Cam Skattebo since the running back arrived in Tempe. Doing so again in the Big 12 Championship Game against Iowa State would pave the surest road to the College Football Playoff.

Skattebo has propelled Arizona State to the sixth-best run game in Power 4 in terms of PFF grades, which have Iowa State’s run defense as the second-worst in Power 4.

“He dominates games at a really high level against some really physical defenses,” ASU quarterback Sam Leavitt said of Skattebo on Tuesday. “What nobody understands … is how much he really creates with small gaps. When they have an extra hitter, he makes a miss and pops it for a gain of 17, making it look so effortless.

“How well he picks up protections, understands the game overall, there’s just so much that he does that people don’t even see. … The fact that he’s not higher on the Heisman boards is pretty crazy to me, and this week, he’s going to go prove to everybody why he should be.”

Skattebo wouldn’t be the first marquee tailback to have a big day against the Cyclones, who have allowed six rushers to notch 100-yard games over their last six, including two quarterbacks.

Injuries have greatly impacted Iowa State’s defense, ending the seasons of four linebackers: Caleb Bacon, Carson Willich, Cael Brezina and John Klosterman.

Skattebo enters the matchup with at least 140 rushing yards in five of his last seven games.

Kyson Brown, meanwhile, is coming off a career-best outing on Saturday at Arizona with 100 yards on eight carries and a 31-yard reception.

ASU’s Sam Leavitt working with less in Big 12 title game matchup

Leavitt won’t have the same support he’s used to with top receiver Jordyn Tyson out, but he could have the edge in terms of decision-making over Iowa State’s Rocco Becht.

The ASU signal caller was PFF’s 11th-best Power 4 quarterback over the regular season (at least 200 dropbacks), and he has fewer turnover-worthy plays (three) than anyone ahead of him.

Becht was further down the list at 49th with 14 turnover-worthy plays over the last six games after only four over the first six games.

It has led to five interceptions over the stretch, although if defensive backs had second chances at a few others it may have kept the Cyclones out of the title game, including a near-pick-six at the end of the first half last week against Kansas State.

Enter an Arizona State defense that has nabbed 11 interceptions over its last seven games, including at least one in each.

“It’s everything. When we win the turnover margin, we usually win the game,” defensive coordinator Brian Ward said Wednesday. “It’s something we make a huge emphasis on, and our guys have been able to capitalize on it this year.”

The Sun Devils have the 11th-best turnover margin in FBS at +11, which has helped ASU win the “middle eight” minutes of games, 80-16. The Cyclones’ turnover margin is at +9.

When Becht has taken care of the ball, it has usually meant good things for Iowa State and its two leading receivers, Jayden Higgins (1,068 yards) and Jaylin Noel (1,013).

“They’re dynamic, they both make big plays. They’re always a threat on any down to score. I think they’re both NFL guys,” Ward said. “It’s impossible to double both. That’s something you just can’t do ’cause these guys will run the football on you.”

A 6-foot-4 senior, Higgins presents major problems that have ailed ASU in the past against Kansas’ 6-foot-5 Quentin Skinner (six catches for 130 yards and two touchdowns) and BYU’s 6-foot-2 Chase Roberts (six catches for 108 yards).

Which redshirt players could ASU utilize vs. Iowa State?

A rule new to college football this season allows for redshirt players to play in postseason games without impacting their redshirt status, even if they’ve already reached the maximum four-game mark.

After wide receiver Malik McClain took reps in the two-deep in Tuesday and Wednesday’s practices, head coach Kenny Dillingham confirmed the redshirt receiver could make his presence known on Saturday filling in for Tyson.

“I definitely think he can be an impact player for us,” Dillingham said on Wednesday. “He did a good job in fall camp. We made a decision to redshirt him just based on numbers. … It’s always about building for the future.

“So to get him back … is good timing for us, and I think he could be impactful.”

Dillingham named defensive backs Plas Johnson and Rodney Bimage Jr. along with defensive lineman Albert Smith III, all true freshmen, as some of the younger redshirt players who could see limited time.

Kickoff for the Big 12 Championship Game is at 10 a.m. MST on Saturday.

Listen to play-by-play coverage on 98.7 FM, the Arizona Sports app or online, with the State of the Sun Devils pregame show starting at 7 a.m. Watch the game on ABC.