TUCSON, Ariz. – The Arizona State Sun Devils gathered at midfield, a large crowd of maroon and gold celebrating a 49-7 win over rival Arizona on Saturday at Arizona Stadium. Suddenly, Cam Skattebo broke away from the sphere, lifted the Territorial Cup in his right hand and stormed toward the stands where Arizona State fans were waiting.
Skattebo had just passed for 177 yards and three touchdowns, helping No. 16 Arizona State to its tenth victory and a berth within the Big 12 Championship Game, an unlikely story for each the red-blooded running back and this system he represents.
Ballots for the Heisman Trophy shall be mailed on Monday. Like his team, Skattebo began the season as an incredible long-distance fighter. In addition, Skattebo, like his team, showed that he belongs.
“He has to be one of the best yards-of-scrimmage defenders in all of Power 4 football,” Arizona State coach Kenny Dillingham said outside the locker room. “How are there many players more influential than him and what he did for this program when he was picked last to potentially play in the conference championship?”
Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter is the favourite to win this yr's Heisman, given to school football's best player. Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty, Miami quarterback Cam Ward and Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel are strong competitors. The top 4 finalists travel to New York for the Heisman ceremony on December 14th.
Skattebo has never been to the Big Apple. Did it occur to him?
“I never thought I would be (in this position),” he said.
Does he think he deserves to go?
“Possibly,” Skattebo said. “We still have more work to do. But yes.”
Man of the hour. pic.twitter.com/rSfIoUAH8v
— Doug Haller (@DougHaller) December 1, 2024
As Skattebo held up the Territorial Cup, the game's oldest rivalry trophy, his teammates gathered around him within the corner of Arizona Stadium. Dillingham asked officials to return players who were already within the locker room to the sphere. As soon as they did, Dillingham and the Sun Devils sang the varsity fight song. After the last word, they celebrated inside.
Skattebo remained on the sphere.
He looked across the sphere and noticed Arizona State fans lined up from one end zone to the opposite. Skattebo made his way downstairs, signing autographs, posing for photos and living within the moment. In the locker room, his coaches and teammates celebrated. Skattebo wasn't fearful.
“I see these guys every day,” he said. “We’ll have fun later.”
Elite players in college football are highly respected in the game. Hunter was a five-star highschool prospect, the highest player in his class. Jeanty was a four-star running back. Coming out of Rio Linda High School in California, Skattebo barely registered, a running back who played like a linebacker.
Skattebo signed with Sacramento State, the one school that offered him a full scholarship. After two seasons, he transferred to Arizona State. In his first season with the Sun Devils, he rushed for 783 yards and nine touchdowns behind a busted line. This season, lean and determined, he was one of the improved players within the country and was the one defensive lineman to enter Saturday with greater than 1,000 rushing yards and greater than 350 receiving yards.
“It's funny because for those of us who have watched him grow up – and I talked to his brother about it last week too – it looks the same,” Skattebo's highschool coach Jack Garceau said by phone during Saturday's game. “It was like that in high school. This way at Sac State. And now it looks like this at ASU. Nothing has changed. He just kept getting better and better.”
Near the stands, Skattebo grabbed a maroon hat and scribbled on it in black ink. He shuffled left, hit fives, and stopped at a blonde boy who asked him to sign his maroon jersey. Skattebo pushed the boy aside so he could use his shoulder for support. A security guard informed colleagues that Skattebo was still on the sphere. A photographer told the running back that his family was waiting not far behind the road.
Arizona State earned bowl eligibility after a Nov. 2 win at Oklahoma State. After that game, Dillingham said the Sun Devils (10-2, 7-2 Big 12) were playing on house money. Quarterback Sam Leavitt said that's when the expanded College Football Playoff first got here to mind.
“Why not us?” he thought.
Arizona State hasn't lost since, winning five straight, each win larger than the last, essentially the most memorable run this program has had because the Sun Devils' 11-1 victory within the 1996 season. Leavitt has developed faster than expected. The offensive line has remained healthy. The defense made plays.
“They still surprise me,” Dillingham said. “They’re just a unique, goofy group of misfits who somehow got together and accomplished something special.”
Skattebo was the engine. Nick Saban previously called him his favorite player in college football on ESPN's “College GameDay.”
“This guy is tough,” the previous Alabama coach said. “Tough. I just love a great competitor. He's everything.”
Skattebo grabbed a cellphone. He held it out so far as his right arm could reach, ensuring the fans behind him were within the frame and smiling. He posed amongst nine Arizona State cheerleaders. Twenty minutes after the sport, Skattebo hugged his family. After a brief conversation, he turned around and jogged towards the locker room. The fans serenaded him along the best way.
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