Arizona State opens door for debate with dominant Big 12 championship game win

Let the debate begin.

Arizona State’s decisive Big 12 championship game win over Iowa State didn’t provide much drama, but it will still fuel arguments until the College Football Playoff committee reveals the 12-team playoff field.

With a 45-19 romp over CFP No. 16 Iowa State (10-3) on Saturday, No. 15 Arizona State (11-2) made a convincing final statement for a first-round bye.

For a refresher, in the 12-team playoff format, the five highest-ranked CFP conference champions receive automatic bids, and the top four receive a bye.

In the most recent rankings, Arizona State was the fifth-highest-ranked conference leader and the projected 12-seed in the CFP. If No. 8 SMU (11-1) beats No. 17 Clemson (9-3) on Saturday night, the Sun Devils will be the lowest-ranked conference champion entering Selection Sunday, setting them up for a first-round road playoff game.

But Arizona State has quietly compiled a resume that suggests it deserves a bye.

Over the last month, it’s defeated two currently ranked CFP teams (No. 18 BYU, Iowa State) and another — Kansas State — that was ranked No. 16 at the time and finished the season 8-4.

Its only loss in its last nine games was against Cincinnati (5-7), which looks bad on the surface until you consider the Sun Devils were without starting quarterback Sam Leavitt.

As Arizona State head coach Kenny Dillingham noted, last year’s committee heavily emphasized player availability after undefeated Florida State lost quarterback Jordan Travis, electing to put one-loss Alabama into the field instead. 

“Last year, they kept Florida State out because their quarterback didn’t play,” Dillingham said. (h/t Awful Announcing) “We’re 11-1 with our quarterback. 11-1. And we’re Big 12 champs. I think we should be treated like an 11-1 team.”

While the 2024 committee features some different members than last year, if it follows similar logic, Arizona State would certainly have a case to earn a first-round bye.

Some people, including Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark, will argue that Arizona State should leapfrog No. 10 Boise State (12-1). 

After the game, Yormark staunchly defended Arizona State, saying, “There should be no comparison between us and any [Group of Five] conference champion.”

But that could be selling the Sun Devils short. They also have a case for leapfrogging potential ACC champion SMU.

The Mustangs’ only loss this season came at home against BYU (10-2), which Arizona State beat in Week 13.

The Sun Devils are peaking at the right time and have one of the country’s best offensive weapons, running back Cameron Skattebo. He did all he could to earn an invite to New York for the Heisman ceremony with an outstanding Big 12 championship game performance, finishing the game with 18 touches, 208 yards and three touchdowns.

Given Arizona State’s recent play, including on Saturday, there’s little argument against it being one of the four best conference champions.

We’ll have to see if the selection committee agrees.