Big 12 Championship Game Preview: No. 16 Iowa State Versus No. 12 Arizona State

Iowa State wide receiver Jaylin Noel (13) celebrates after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Kansas in Kansas City, Mo., on Nov. 9, 2024. Charlie Riedel/AP Photo

With the new rules set forth for the College Football Playoff this season, the winner of the Big 12 will get an automatic berth in the field of 12. And that game will be played at the home of the Dallas Cowboys early on Saturday with a big part of the CFP picture importantly already known to the two teams participating.

The top four seeds in the brackets for the CFP go to the four highest-ranked conference champions in their final standings. As the standings set up right now, those four teams would be the winners of the Big Ten, SEC and, if SMU wins later on Saturday, the ACC. The fourth spot is up for grabs.

Boise State is in place to be that fourth bye right now, but they play the Mountain West Championship Game on Friday night. If Boise State loses to UNLV, the door is open for the winner of the Big 12 to get that fourth bye. And that result will be known before kickoff on Saturday. With both teams coming into this game with two losses, the loser is out of the playoff picture.

We’ve already looked ahead to the Big Ten Championship Game, the SEC Championship Game, and the ACC Championship Game. Now, let’s set up the tale of the tape for the Big 12’s title contest.

Big 12 Championship Game

No. 16 Iowa State (10–2) versus No. 12 Arizona State (10–2) Noon ET AT&T Stadium, Arlington

Team Offense

Arizona State

• 419.8 yards/game (8th in Big 12)
• 32.1 points/game (5th in Big 12)
• 195.0 rush yards/game (4th in Big 12)

Iowa State

• 422.6 yards/game (5th in Big 12)
• 31.2 points/game (6th in Big 12)
• 164.6 rush yards/game (8th in the Big 12)

The Quarterbacks

ASU: Sam Leavitt—62.7 percent comp., 2,444 yards, 21 touchdowns, 5 INT, 350 rush yards, 4 rush TDs

ISU: Rocco Becht—59.2 percent comp., 3,021 yards, 20 TDs, 8 INT, 272 rush yards, 7 rush TDs

Impact Players

ASU: RB Cam Skattebo—1,398 rush yards, 468 receiving yards, 19 total TDs (17 rush, 2 rec)

ISU: WR Jayden Higgins—1,068 receiving yards 9 TDs

Team Defense

ASU

• 21.5 pts/game (4th in Big 12)
• 336.6 yards/game (5th in the Big 12)
• 116.8 rush yards/game (2nd in the Big 12)

ISU

• 19.6 pts/game (1st in Big 12)
• 330.6 yards/game (4th in Big 12)
• 173.7 rush yards/game (14th in the Big 12)

Best Win(s)

ASU

• 35–21 versus Kansas (Oct. 5)
• 28–23 versus BYU (Nov. 23)

ISU

• 20–19 versus Iowa (Sept. 7)
• 29–21 versus Kansas State (Dec. 1)

Who Has the Advantage?

Both of these teams lost to an 8–4 Texas Tech team in conference play, and the viewers might have been praying for Colorado to somehow sneak into this game, but the Sun Devils and Cyclones will play for a shot at the College Football Playoff anyway.

Iowa State and Arizona State both love to run the ball. But Iowa State has struggled to limit teams on the ground, which is a big arrow for Arizona State. Cam Skattebo not only has one of the best names in college football, but he’s been one of the most productive all-around backs in the country.

One other area to watch: Iowa State comes in with two 1,000-yard receivers (Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel) who combined to catch 15 touchdowns this season. Arizona State finished the regular season fourth in the Big 12 in pass defense, allowing only 219.8 yards per game.