College football is weird. One minute you're playing in a localized conference with decades of predictable bus trips, and the next, you're flying across the desert to face a team that used to be a "once-in-a-decade" non-conference opponent. That’s basically the vibe of BYU football vs Arizona State Sun Devils football right now.
Honestly, if you told a BYU fan five years ago that their most stressful game of 2024 would involve a 15-minute delay because Sun Devil fans took the goalposts down too early, they’d have asked what you were smoking. But here we are. The move to the Big 12 has turned this matchup from a historical curiosity into a high-stakes fistfight with massive postseason implications.
What Really Happened in Tempe?
The November 23, 2024, game was absolute lunacy. Let’s just call it what it was: a fever dream. BYU walked into Mountain America Stadium ranked No. 14, looking to solidify a spot in the Big 12 title game. Arizona State, ranked No. 21, was the surprise darling of the season under Kenny Dillingham.
The first half was a disaster for the Cougars. Cam Skattebo, ASU’s human bowling ball of a running back, basically treated the BYU defense like a set of optional obstacles. He racked up 147 yards and three touchdowns in the first half alone. By the time the halftime whistle blew, BYU was down 21-3. It looked over.
But BYU doesn't really do "over."
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Jake Retzlaff started slinging it in the second half. He finished with 346 yards, finding Chase Roberts and Darius Lassiter for chunk plays that flipped the momentum completely. BYU clawed back to 28-23. Then, the chaos.
With seconds left, ASU tried to run the clock out by having quarterback Sam Leavitt run backward and heave the ball into the air. The ball landed with one second left. The ASU fans, thinking the game was over, stormed the field. They didn't just storm it; they ripped the goalposts down.
It took 15 minutes to clear the field. BYU got one last Hail Mary. It was completed to the two-yard line. Game over. ASU wins 28-23.
The 2025 Rematch and Beyond
Fast forward to 2025, and the script flipped a bit. On October 11, 2025, BYU and Arizona met in a double-overtime thriller that saw the Cougars win 33-27. But the real "BYU football vs Arizona State Sun Devils football" showdown of 2025 took place on November 28.
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This time, BYU went back to Tempe and actually handled their business. They won 23-7. It wasn't the offensive explosion people expected, but it showed that Kalani Sitake had finally figured out how to slow down that Sun Devil rushing attack.
The series history is actually pretty lopsided if you look at the all-time numbers. Before these recent Big 12 clashes, ASU dominated the 70s and 80s. But modern college football is a "what have you done for me lately" business. Right now, these two programs are mirrors of each other: tough, slightly overlooked by the national media, and coached by guys who would probably run through a brick wall for their players.
Why This Matchup Still Matters
You've got two fanbases that travel incredibly well. When BYU goes to Tempe, half the stadium is wearing navy blue. When ASU goes to Provo, the "Curtain of Distraction" energy follows them.
The Big 12 needed a rivalry that felt organic. While everyone focuses on the "Holy War" between BYU and Utah, the BYU football vs Arizona State Sun Devils football game has quietly become the "blue-collar" rivalry of the conference.
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- Recruiting Wars: Both teams hunt for the same four-star kids in Arizona and Utah.
- Coaching Philosophies: Sitake’s "love and learning" vs. Dillingham’s high-energy "Activate the Valley."
- Style of Play: It’s a contrast of Retzlaff’s gunslinging vs. the Sun Devils’ grind-it-out physical identity.
ASU currently leads the all-time series 21-8, but that’s a bit misleading. A huge chunk of those wins came back when the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) was the Sun Devils' personal playground. Since 1997, the games have been much more competitive, with BYU winning three of the last five meetings.
Looking Ahead: Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're planning on betting or even just watching the next iteration of this game, keep these specific factors in mind.
First, look at the turnover margin. In the 2024 loss, BYU threw two interceptions that proved fatal. In their 2025 win, they played clean football. It’s a cliché, but for these two specific teams, it’s the entire story.
Second, watch the home-field "chaos" factor. Tempe is a house of horrors for ranked teams at night. If the game is a 7:00 PM MST kickoff in Arizona, the Sun Devils get a massive statistical bump.
- Check the injury report for RBs: Both offenses rely heavily on a lead back (like LJ Martin or Cam Skattebo) to set up the play-action. If one of them is out, the offensive efficiency drops by nearly 30%.
- Monitor the altitude transition: ASU players often struggle in the fourth quarter in Provo due to the 4,500-foot elevation.
- Ticket Strategy: Buy early for the Tempe games. The BYU alumni base in Arizona is massive, and they sell out the visitor sections faster than almost any other Big 12 opponent.
The Big 12 is wide open. These games aren't just for bragging rights anymore; they are playoff eliminators. Keep an eye on the 2026 schedule—whenever these two meet, expect the unexpected, and maybe keep an eye on those goalposts.