STARKVILLE, Miss. — Arizona State had climbed all the way back.
Down 17-0 in a hostile SEC environment, the Sun Devils methodically battled into the lead with 20 unanswered points. A grinding, 17-play, 95-yard drive that chewed up nearly nine minutes ended with a Jesus Gomez field goal, putting ASU ahead 20-17 with just 1:38 to play.
For a moment, the comeback looked complete.
Then Mississippi State broke their hearts.
Quarterback Blake Shapen found Brenen Thompson streaking behind the ASU defense on a 58-yard touchdown pass with 30 seconds left, silencing the Sun Devils’ sideline and sending the Davis Wade Stadium crowd into a frenzy. The Bulldogs’ quick five-play, 77-yard drive turned the game back in their favor for a 24-20 win.
Arizona State still had life, starting its final possession with two timeouts. But Sam Leavitt, who had struggled throughout the night, threw his second interception of the game with 21 seconds remaining, sealing the victory for Mississippi State.
Leavitt finished just 10-for-22 passing for 82 yards and one touchdown, with the two costly turnovers. The Sun Devils leaned on the ground game, where Raleek Brown (18 carries, 110 yards) and Kanye Udoh (23 carries, 105 yards, one touchdown) carried the load after starter Kyson Brown left the game early with an injury.
The Bulldogs struck early, scoring on a 48-yard pass from Shapen to Anthony Evans III to grab a quick 7-0 lead. Shapen and Thompson later connected for a 47-yard score in the second quarter to push it to 17-0. At halftime, Mississippi State had outgained ASU 209-95, and the Sun Devils’ lone points came on Gomez’s 51-yard kick as time expired in the half.
But Arizona State’s response in the second half was immediate. The Sun Devils went exclusively to the run game on their first possession, marching 75 yards before Udoh finished it off from six yards out. Early in the fourth quarter, Leavitt’s 2-yard touchdown pass to Jordyn Tyson on 4th-and-goal tied the game at 17.
The defense held firm throughout the second half, forcing multiple punts and keeping Shapen under pressure. But when ASU was stopped inches short of the goal line late, the Sun Devils had to settle for three instead of seven — a decision that left the door open for Mississippi State’s decisive final strike.
Arizona State controlled time of possession, holding the ball for 37:57 compared to the Bulldogs’ 22:03, but Mississippi State’s explosive plays proved the difference.
The Sun Devils return home at 1-1 to face Texas State next week. Mississippi State moves to 2-0 and will host Alcorn State.
