Leavitt throws 4 touchdowns, including the game-winner in the final minute, to lift Arizona State past Kansas 35-31

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Sam Leavitt threw four touchdown passes, including A 3-yard strike to Jordyn Tyson with 16 seconds leftand Arizona State earned a thrilling 35-31 victory over Kansas on Saturday night.

The Sun Devils (4-1, 1-1 Big 12) outlasted the Jayhawks in a back-and-forth game that featured six lead changes in the second half. Cam Skattebo ran for a team-high 186 yards, including a crucial 39-yard run on the game-winning drive.

“Good job from our guys, they just executed,” Sun Devils coach Kenny Dillingham said. “That's it. We just played the next play. We didn't let ourselves get flustered. We just answered.”

Leavitt completed 14 of 24 passes for 157 yards. His consistent play helped the Sun Devils rebound from their first loss of the season, a 30-22 setback to Texas Tech on Sept. 21.

“It just went back to what we do,” Leavitt said. “The last game we played wasn’t our style of football, so we went back to that.”

Kansas (1-5, 0-3) has lost five straight, including four by a touchdown or less. Jalon Daniels threw for a season-high 260 yards and two touchdowns. Devin Neal ran for 71 yards and a touchdown.

On Saturday, the teams competed in record-breaking heat in front of a sold-out crowd of 54,639 spectators. The temperature at kickoff was 107 degrees, marking the hottest October game in Tempe since 2000.

The Jayhawks didn't seem to be fazed by the heat and took a 31-28 lead with 2:04 left when Daniels hit Quentin Skinner for his second touchdown catch of the night, this time on a 34-yard diving completion.

But the Jayhawks failed to close out the game, allowing the Sun Devils to complete eight plays for 75 yards in less than two minutes.

“At the end of the day, our job is to stop the offense,” Kansas defensive end Dean Miller said. “Unfortunately we fell short. We have to do better as a team and as a unit.”

Leavitt capped the decisive drive by sending the 3-yard touchdown pass to Tyson, who had slipped past a defender. It was Tyson's second touchdown catch of the night and a proud moment for the sophomore, who missed all of last season with a knee injury.

“It means everything,” Tyson said.

Kansas took a 24-17 lead with 10:49 to play when Neal made a smart cut before running untouched for a 31-yard touchdown.

The Sun Devils took a 21-17 lead early in the fourth quarter with a direct snap to Skattebo going for the 1-yard touchdown. Leavitt converted a crucial third-and-18 during the drive, throwing an accurate pass over the middle to Tyson.

Arizona State tied the game 14-1 just before halftime when Leavitt threw a short pass to Chamon Metayer, who ran 20 yards into the end zone. Kansas was hurt by two penalties over a three-game span against cornerback Cobee Bryant, who was flagged for holding and pass interference.

Arizona State's Keyshaun Elliott and Clayton Smith were ejected from the field in the second half for targeting. The two – who are among the Sun Devils' best defensive players – will also miss the first half of Friday's game against No. 18 Utah.

The takeaway food

Kansas: It's another brutal loss for the Jayhawks, who had high expectations early in the season but managed just one win midway through the schedule. Kansas was ranked 19th in the nation after its season-opening win just five weeks ago.

Arizona State: It's another exciting win for the Sun Devils, who have improved significantly in their second year under coach Kenny Dillingham. They have their biggest test of the year on Friday against No. 18 Utah.

Next

Kansas: Home game against Houston on October 19th.

Arizona State: Hosts No. 18 Utah on Friday.

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