With the thermostat at Mountain America Stadium set to “hell” on Saturday evening, the Arizona State Sun Devils hosted the Kansas Jayhawks in their first BIG 12 matchup at home. The temperature at kickoff was a “toasty” 107 degrees, the hottest temperature for an ASU kickoff since 2000.

Both teams came into this matchup following a loss. Arizona State had dropped their first loss of the season on September 21st to Texas Tech. Kansas came into Tempe a week after dropping 38-27 to TCU at home.

Kansas would win the coin toss and defer so Arizona State would receive the opening kickoff.

On their first drive Arizona State would rely on their “no huddle” formation, led by quarterback, Sam Leavitt. With a combination of short and intermediate passes, the Sun Devils would march down the field and cap off the first drive with a 28-yard touchdown pass from Leavitt to Xavier Guillory. Ian Hershey would add the extra point, giving Arizona State a quick 7-0 lead, with 11:48 remaining in the first quarter.

Now, the question for the Kansas Jayhawks heading into this game would be if their quarterback, Jaylon Daniels could lead the offense and play turnover-free football. Daniels came into the matchup with 8 Interceptions already through four games. But he showed no effects from his past experiences on the first drive, leading the Jayhawks down the field on their first drive which ended with a 22-yard touchdown rush by Daniels. Luke Hosford added the extra point, and after each team had a possession, the score was tied 7-7 with 6:30 remaining in the first quarter.

After both teams opened with scoring drives, the defenses stepped up and neither team with score gain for the remainder of the first quarter, despite both teams possessing the ball two times each.

The Jayhawks would be the first to score the next touchdown after a long, 10-play scoring drive that actually began toward the end of the first quarter, on their own 15-yard line. Jalon Daniels would hit Quentin Skinner on a deep left pass (30 yards) that would give Kansas the lead with 11:50 remaining in the second quarter. Luke Hosford with hit the extra point which brought the score to 14-7 over the Sun Devils.

The Jayhawks defense should keep Arizona State off the board until just before halftime when Sam Leavitt would hit Tight End Chamon Metayer for a 20-yard score with just :26 remaining in the half. Carston Kieffer would hit the point after, tying the game at 14-14 which is where the half would end.

Kansas would receive the ball to begin the second half. On a drive that started on their own 25, Daniels would lead the Jayhawks down the field on a 14-play drive, but would stop short and the Jayhawks would settle for a Tabor Allen 20-yard field goal, giving Kansas the lead, 17-14 with 10:04 remaining in the third quarter.

The Arizona State Sun Devils offense did not manage to get on the board the remainder of the third quarter, but did end the third quarter on the Jayhawks 1-yard line. And they would open the fourth quarter with a 1-yard touchdown run by Cam Skattebo. Carson Kieffer would add the extra point and Arizona State reclaimed the lead 21-17.

The Kansas Jayhawks would respond with a 9-play drive ending with a 31-yard touchdown rush by Devin Neal. Luke Hosford would add the extra point and the Jayhawks would have a 24-21 lead with 10:49 remaining in the game.

Arizona State would answer with a 10-play scoring drive, capped off by a touchdown when Sam Leavitt would find Jordyn Tyson for the 31-yard strike. Kieffer would add the extra point and ASU would have 28-24 lead with 6:19 remaining.

Desperate to not lose their fifth straight game, the Jayhawks answered with a 8-play scoring drive when Daniels hit Quentin Skinner for his second touchdown reception of the game, a 34-yard score. Hosford added the extra point, giving the Jayhawks a 31-28 lead with just over two minutes remaining on the clock.

Not to be outdone in their BIG 12 home opener, Sam Leavitt would lead a beautiful two-minute drill, finding Jordyn Tyson for a 3-yard score, giving the Sun Devils the lead with just :16 remaining on the clock (Kieffer extra point was good), 35-31.

Despite almost no time on the clock, the Jayhawks would find themselves on their own 49-yardline with just five seconds remaining. They would have one last heave to the end zone by Jalon Daniels, but the pass intended for Torry Locklin was broken up by Arizona State’s Xavion Alford and the ball fell to the ground with no time remaining.

Arizona State would hold on and win their BIG 12 home opener over the Kansas Jayhawks by the final score of 35-31.

Sam Leavitt would finish the game with 4 touchdowns on 14-24 passing, and 157 yards. He would also rush the ball 10 times for 77 yards. Cam Skattebo would finish the day with 186 yards rushing and one score. Jordyn Tyson would lead all ASU receivers with six receptions for 76 yards, and two touchdowns, including what would end up being the winning score with just sixteen seconds left in the game.

For the Jayhawks, Jalon Daniels would play turnover-free football. He would finish the day with 260 yards passing and two scores through the air, and one on the ground. Devin Neal would lead Kansas on the ground with 71 rushing yards and one score. Quentin Skinner lead the receiving corps with six receptions, for 130 yards, and two scores.

The Jayhawks will take on Houston at home after a bye week.

​Arizona State will have a big Friday Night matchup on October 11th at Mountain America Stadium against 16th ranked Utah. The Utes are coming off their first loss of the season, at home against unranked Arizona (23-10). That game will be on ESPN.