Big 12 Championship Dreams: Could the Sun Devils Make It Happen?

TEMPE, Ariz. — Arizona State University (ASU) is currently leading the Big 12 Conference after a significant victory against BYU on Saturday. This upset, with a final score of 28-23, marks an impressive turnaround for a team that was previously struggling.

Entering the season, ASU faced skepticism, coming off two consecutive 3-9 seasons and being predicted to finish last in the Big 12. However, following their recent performance, the Sun Devils find themselves in a remarkable position, ranked No. 21 nationally.

The team’s next challenge is crucial. To secure a spot in the Big 12 Championship Game set for December 7 in Arlington, Texas, ASU must win against their long-standing rival, Arizona, during the Territorial Cup and rely on specific outcomes in other games.

For ASU to clinch their title game spot, Colorado needs to defeat Oklahoma State, while ASU must overcome Arizona, Iowa State must beat Kansas State, and BYU needs to win against Houston. Should these conditions be met, ASU would emerge as the top team in any potential tiebreaker scenario involving Colorado, BYU, and Iowa State.

In the case of a three-way tie, the outcomes vary. If Iowa State, BYU, and ASU all win but Colorado loses, ASU would face Iowa State. Conversely, if BYU, Colorado, and ASU win while Iowa State loses, ASU would compete against BYU.

The complexity increases with additional “chaos scenarios.” Should BYU lose while ASU, Colorado, and Iowa State win, ASU might find itself out of the title game race. Various combinations further complicate these tiebreakers, making every game leading to the finale particularly significant.

If ASU were to lose to Arizona, paths still exist for them to reach the title game, but they would depend heavily on the outcomes of other teams’ games, most notably requiring losses from BYU, Iowa State, Colorado, and Texas Tech.

The Big 12 employs a rigorous seven-step tiebreaker procedure in scenarios involving multiple tied teams. Factors include winning percentage among contested teams, performance against common opponents, and overall season performance.

ASU’s season culminates against Arizona this Saturday, November 30, at 1:30 p.m. in Tucson. Fans can expect heightened excitement as the stakes increase.

Watch key matchups unfold as the Big 12 race reaches its climax, with Saturday’s games poised to determine the playoff implications.