ARLINGTON, Texas witnessed an extraordinary moment as Cam Skattebo dashed across the goal line at AT&T Stadium, striking a Heisman pose with his Arizona State teammates rejoicing around him. That 3-yard run was the first of his three scores on that fateful day, giving the Sun Devils a significant seven-point lead over Iowa State in Saturday's Big 12 championship game.

The Catalyst for Arizona State's Magical Run

Breakout Season and Catalyst

Skattebo's breakout season has been the driving force behind No. 15 Arizona State's remarkable journey. With a 45 - 19 win over No. 16 Iowa State (10 - 3), the Sun Devils secured their place in the College Football Playoff. Just after the final seconds ticked away, Skattebo stood on a stage, accepting the Most Outstanding Player honors in the form of a WWE wrestling belt emblazoned with "Big 12" and presented by WWE wrestlers Jey Uso and Sami Zayn. This was fitting given his physical style of play.He then passed the belt around to his offensive linemen, acknowledging their role in his success. The CFP selection show airs at 10 a.m. MST Sunday on ESPN.

Third Quarter Dominance

In the third quarter, ASU outscored Iowa State 21 - 0. Sun Devils coach Kenny Dillingham expressed his pride, stating, "Three straight stops, three straight turnovers... short fields, offense has finished. Just complementary football. I'm really proud of the guys." This dominance marked the sixth straight victory for ASU and their fourth win over a nationally ranked opponent.Despite losing their leading receiver Jordyn Tyson to injury last week, the Sun Devils sent a clear message. Led by Skattebo, they scored 35 unanswered points after the teams were tied at 10.

Impressive Statistics

Skattebo tallied an astonishing 170 yards on 16 carries and caught two passes for 38 yards. His 33 - yard scoring reception in the third quarter gave ASU a 45 - 10 lead. His 18 points and three touchdowns tied a Big 12 championship - game record, and his total yards this season (2,174 rushing and receiving combined) broke a school record set by Eno Benjamin (1,905 yards) in 2018.He wasn't on the radar of NFL scouts after last season, but his performance in the conference championship game on national television made a statement. There have never been more eyes on him than on Saturday, and he delivered.

First Half Highlights

The first half ended with ASU in the lead 24 - 10, thanks to Skattebo's 140 yards. Of those, 90 came after contact, and his longest carry of the day was a 53 - yard jaunt during which he broke five tackles.Any hope the Cyclones had of a comeback ended quickly as ASU forced three turnovers in the third quarter and turned them all into touchdowns, leading to a rout.

Coach's Perspective

Dillingham has no doubt that Skattebo is worthy of a trip to New York City. He joked, "I do think he should be... Like he's good enough to be there. I don't know. What did he finish up today? Oh, he was 0 for 1 passing." But he also pointed out that Skattebo had two catches for 38 yards, one touchdown, and basically had 200 yards of total offense and three touchdowns. "That's incredible. I think that's his third time in a row he's gone for over 100 yards and multiple touchdowns in the first half, potentially. I don't know what else you can do to put your name in the race. There are two other guys that are really, really high on that list, and I don't know if he should ever surpass those guys. Should he be on that list? Should he have the opportunity to go there? Yes."

Next Steps and Blemish

Now, the Sun Devils await their CFP fate. Most projections had ASU as an 11 or 12 seed and not getting a first - round bye, with Boise State getting the privilege. But ASU made a strong case. The only blemish was the second - half targeting penalty on Sun Devils defensive back Shamari Simmons, which means he won't be available for the first half of ASU's next game.Skattebo's numbers could have been even better, but the game was in hand, and he came out early in the fourth quarter. Freshman quarterback Sam Leavitt also had a great game, throwing for 219 yards and three touchdowns, two of which went to Xavier Guillory.Iowa State coach Matt Campbell expressed his respect for Skattebo, saying, "He's a really good football player, a lot of respect for him. Any time you witness a great football player like that, you just have to have great appreciation for that. He's an 'A' player, and he played an 'A' game today. In those moments, you need your 'A' players to play football, he certainly did it. Hats off to him for sure."