WACO, TX — Arizona State opened its Big 12 campaign in Waco with all the drama you could hope for: clutch defense, big plays, and a last-second field goal to steal a 27-24 win over Baylor. Here’s how the Sun Devils pulled off the thrilling road victory.
Game Flow
The game started as a defensive battle, with both teams struggling to find the end zone. ASU struck first after forcing an early Baylor turnover, with Jesus Gomez splitting the uprights on a 31-yard field goal to make it 3-0. Baylor quickly answered with a career-long 53-yard field goal from Connor Hawkins, tying the game 3-3 early in the first quarter.
Arizona State’s offense finally found the end zone midway through the second quarter. Sam Leavitt capped an 83-yard, 13-play drive with a one-yard quarterback sneak, giving the Sun Devils a 10-3 lead. Baylor responded with an 8-yard touchdown pass from Sawyer Robertson to Kole Wilson, tying it 10-10 just minutes before halftime. By the break, the teams were deadlocked, each holding the other to key defensive stops while turnovers loomed large.
The third quarter saw ASU’s defense shine. After forcing multiple Baylor turnovers, the Sun Devils moved into scoring position, though they were only able to convert one of those opportunities into a field goal. Jesus Gomez added two more kicks, putting ASU up 16-10, but the offense was still searching for a touchdown.
The fourth quarter delivered the fireworks. Baylor drove 75 yards to grab its first lead of the game on a 1-yard touchdown pass from Robertson to Michael Trigg, making it 17-16. ASU answered in dramatic fashion on an 84-yard, seven-play drive. Leavitt’s 61-yard connection with Derek Eusebio flipped field position, and he then found Jordyn Tyson for a 19-yard touchdown, followed by a successful two-point conversion, giving ASU a 24-17 lead with 5:29 left.
Baylor refused to fold, tying the game at 24 on another Robertson to Trigg touchdown with under two minutes to play. With the Sun Devils needing just three points to win, Leavitt guided the team downfield into Baylor territory. A late-hit penalty gave ASU a first down at the 38, setting up the dramatic finish. Gomez calmly drilled a 43-yard field goal as time expired, sealing the 27-24 victory.
1st Quarter: Sun Devils Strike First in a Defensive Standoff
Arizona State wasted no time making its presence felt in Waco. After Baylor received the opening kickoff, the Sun Devils’ defense struck early, forcing a fumble on a Josh Cameron reception that Adrian Wilson recovered at the Baylor 39. ASU capitalized on the turnover with a methodical ground-and-air attack, mixing in runs from Raleek Brown and Sam Leavitt to march into the red zone.
After a couple of penalties threatened to stall the drive, the Sun Devils finished strong, with Jesus Gomez splitting the uprights on a 31-yard field goal to make it 3-0. Baylor tried to answer, moving the ball with short passes and productive runs from Bryson Washington and Caden Knighten. They ultimately settled for a 53-yard field goal from Connor Hawkins, tying the game at 3-3.
Late in the quarter, Baylor pushed back into Sun Devil territory, with Robertson connecting on passes to Washington and Michael Trigg and Washington picking up a short run. The drive ended at the ASU 43 as the first quarter expired, keeping the game knotted at 3-3 and setting the stage for a tense second quarter.
2nd Quarter: Sun Devils Take the First Touchdown Lead
The second quarter started with Baylor moving the ball efficiently, mixing passes and runs from Sawyer Robertson and Bryson Washington to push into ASU territory. The Sun Devils’ defense held strong, forcing a key incompletion on 3rd down and keeping the Bears from reaching the end zone early in the quarter.
ASU’s offense responded with some balance of run and pass, including a critical 12-yard strike from Sam Leavitt to Jordyn Tyson and a 25-yard scramble from Leavitt himself. The drive culminated in a 1-yard touchdown run by Leavitt, giving the Sun Devils a 10-3 lead and putting them in front for the first time. Jesus Gomez’s extra point was good, and ASU fans finally got to cheer a touchdown after settling for a field goal in the first quarter.
Baylor quickly answered, driving down the field with a mix of Robertson passes and key runs from Caden Knighten. Robertson found Kole Wilson for an 8-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 10-10. The teams traded possessions, with ASU recovering a fumble and trying to strike again before halftime, but the Sun Devils couldn’t capitalize and were forced to punt.
The half ended with ASU and Baylor deadlocked at 10-10, setting the stage for a tense second half. Both defenses had made key stops, turnovers were already shaping the game, and the momentum swung back and forth. A perfect setup for what would become a thrilling Big 12 opener for the Sun Devils.
3rd Quarter: Sun Devils Stay Ahead in a Back-and-Forth Battle
Arizona State opened the second half with a steady mix of runs and short passes, led by Raleek Brown and Sam Leavitt, but the drive stalled around midfield, forcing a punt. Baylor took over at its own 15 and tried to answer, with Bryson Washington and Josh Cameron moving the chains. The Sun Devils’ defense bent but didn’t break, holding Baylor to a field goal attempt earlier in the quarter.
ASU’s offense regained momentum, driving into Baylor territory thanks to precise throws from Leavitt, including connections to Chamon Metayer and Raleek Brown. The Sun Devils capped a long march with a 21-yard field goal from Jesus Gomez, extending the lead and keeping the pressure on the Bears.
Baylor continued to fight, moving down the field behind Robertson’s arm, but ASU’s defense stepped up again late in the quarter, with Keith Abney II picking off a pass to stop a promising drive. Before the quarter ended, Leavitt exploded on a 27-yard scramble to the Baylor 10, giving the Sun Devils prime field position as they looked to break the game open in the fourth.
The quarter was a showcase of ASU’s balance: timely defensive plays, efficient running, and clutch passes, keeping the Sun Devils ahead in a tightly contested Big 12 match-up.
4th Quarter: Sun Devils Close It Out with Clutch Plays and Key Stops
The final quarter opened with both teams pushing hard, but Arizona State’s offense struggled to convert early in the red zone, settling for a 33-yard field goal from Jesus Gomez after a short-yardage loss and an incompletion. Baylor answered with a mix of short passes and explosive runs by Bryson Washington, including a 41-yard sprint that put them at the 1-yard line. A quick TD pass from Sawyer Robertson to Michael Trigg pulled the Bears within striking distance, keeping the contest tense.
ASU responded with a signature big-play drive. Sam Leavitt unleashed a 61-yard strike to Derek Eusebio, setting up another scoring opportunity. Raleek Brown’s power running and Leavitt’s precise passes to Kyson Brown and Jordyn Tyson extended the drive, culminating in a 19-yard touchdown to Tyson. The Sun Devils’ aggressive two-point conversion attempt succeeded, giving ASU a crucial buffer.
Baylor’s final pushes featured Robertson connecting with Michael Trigg and Louis Brown IV for touchdowns, keeping the pressure on, but ASU’s defense held strong when it mattered most, forcing short gains and key incompletions. In the closing seconds, Jesus Gomez added a 43-yard field goal to seal the game, capping a disciplined drive and solidifying the Sun Devils’ victory.
The 4th quarter was a masterclass in composure for ASU, capitalizing on opportunities, executing under pressure, and answering Baylor’s big plays to maintain control until the final whistle.
Arizona State didn’t just escape Waco with a 27-24 win Saturday night. It showed it could weather adversity, lean on its defense, trust its kicker, and still make the kinds of explosive plays that change the trajectory of a season.
