By Jacob Seliga
Lead Writer
As the 2024 season enters the home stretch in the month of November, few teams have everything worthwhile to play for and others are figuring out what their goal is to finish the year.
For the Arizona State Sun Devils, as they travel to face Oklahoma State on Saturday, their ultimate goal is clear: to pick up their sixth win and clinch a bowl game berth for the first time in three years.
Initially, in the days following quarterback Sam Leavitt’s rib injury that occurred against Utah, head coach Kenny Dillingham stated that Leavitt would be out for 2-4 weeks, with the possibility for the timeline to extend further. For Leavitt to return in week three of recovery, it appears as if the Sun Devils are throwing everything at winning this game on Saturday.
Oklahoma State, entering the season, was considered one of the favorites to win the Big 12 Conference behind All-American running back Ollie Gordon II and an experienced defense. Through eight games, what looked like a potential dream season has turned into a nightmare.
Sitting at 3-5 overall with a winless record in the conference so far, the Cowboys streak of 18 consecutive winning seasons is in jeopardy.
Oklahoma State Preview
Throughout the preseason, the narrative around Oklahoma State was that the Cowboys would be a run-first unit after their inconsistency at the quarterback position. That hasn’t been the case in 2024 so far, and returning starter Alan Bowman has had to shoulder a larger load offensively and has thrown for 14 touchdowns. The issue is, he has thrown 10 interceptions and has been wildly inaccurate throughout their five game losing streak
Part of those struggles have been because of the offensive line. But what is puzzling is that four out of five starters on the line are returners to the program and are upperclassmen. The lone non-returning starter is former Sun Devil Isaia Glass, who transferred to Stillwater this season. Through eight games, the Cowboys offensive line has not been able to create optimal holes in spite of the fact that teams are stacking the box against the offense on a Big 12 low 18% of plays.
In total, the Cowboy offense has been average at best this year. Oklahoma State ranks 50th in the country in scoring offense at 30 points per game, a number which has been inflated by early season cupcake games against South Dakota State and Tulsa.
The defense, which brought back a load of experience, has also cratered.
Last week against Baylor, which holds one of the least explosive offenses in the Big 12, the Bears rushed for 345 yards on 9.7 yards per carry, gashing both the interior of the Cowboys defense and on runs to the outside. Overall, the Bears' offense finished with a season high 567 yards in the game and continues an alarming trend for the Pokes.
The biggest cause for their failure over the last month has been the injury bug plaguing the linebacking core. Nick Martin entered the year as a potential All-American and started the season on fire, stuffing the stat sheet with 47 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, a forced fumble and a sack in the first five games. In the three games since his injury, the Cowboys have been grasping for straws in the unit as All-Conference linebacker Collin Oliver was injured earlier in the season and remains out.
With no stability defensively from the most important position, the Cowboys have been run over all season long. Through eight games, Oklahoma State ranks second-to-last in the country in rushing yards allowed per game and in total yards allowed per game. The Cowboys also find themselves near the bottom of the country in points allowed per game, passing yards allowed per game, and third down conversion percentage.
Prediction: Arizona State 34 Oklahoma State 20
The Sun Devils are in prime position this week coming off a bye to get back on track following their loss to Cincinnati just two weeks ago. With Leavitt’s return, the offense will take a significant jump as his ability to pass the ball effectively, unlike Jeff Sims, will keep the Cowboys injured and struggling defense honest and not allow them to stack the box the whole time.
This matchup bodes well for running back Cam Skattebo, who looks to get back on track after a subpar game for his standards against a Cowboy defense that is allowing the highest total of rushing yards before contact in the country so far. With rain in the forecast for the entire game, it’s likely that the Sun Devils will lean on the ground game more than in other matchups, and the possibility of extending possessions and marching the ball down field is in their favor.
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