ASU Big 12 Championship guide and playoff scenarios
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Arizona State University is headed to the Big 12 Championship Game. Photo: Bruce Yeung/Getty Images
Arizona State University — picked in the preseason conference poll to finish dead last — is favored to win Saturday's Big 12 Championship Game.
Why it matters: Head coach Kenny Dillingham promised to restore glory to the football program after an era plagued by scandal and subpar performance.
- In his second season — and ASU's first in the Big 12 Conference — Dillingham and his players have exceeded expectations.
The big picture: The Sun Devils take on Iowa State at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, on Saturday.
- The winner is guaranteed a spot in the new 12-team College Football Playoff.
State of play: ASU is coming off a five-game win streak, including several impressive underdog wins against ranked teams.
- The Sun Devils' leading receiver, Jordyn Tyson, was injured in last week's win over the University of Arizona and will miss the championship game and potential playoff run.
Zoom in: The game kicks off at 10am on ABC.
- Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers (which recently released the Skatteburger to honor star running back Cameron Skattebo) will host watch parties at all Arizona locations.
Zoom out: Sun Devil fans headed to Arlington for the matchup will be met by a Texas-sized welcoming committee — there are more ASU alumni in the Lonestar State than in any state other than Arizona and California, Arizona's Family reported.
- The Sun Angel Collective and the Dallas/Ft. Worth Alumni Chapter are hosting a social-hour meetup Friday night and a tailgate before the game Saturday.
The intrigue: The Big 12 champion will likely be the only Power Four conference champ to not get a first-round playoff bye — which has Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark fuming.
- The four highest-ranked conference champions will secure a bye, and Boise State of the Group of 5 Mountain West Conference is currently ranked above both ASU and Iowa State.
- "In no way should a Group of 5 champion be ranked above our champion," Yormark told reporters Wednesday. "Strength of schedule should matter and wins against Power Four opponents should matter."
What we're watching: If Boise State loses to UNLV in the Mountain West championship Friday night and ASU beats Iowa State, the Sun Devils will clinch a bye and have a good shot of playing with home-field advantage in the Fiesta Bowl quarterfinals game on Dec. 31, per Arizona Sports.
- It would be the first time ASU has played in the Fiesta Bowl since 1983.