ARLINGTON, Texas — Wherever Arizona State cornerback Javan Robinson goes, game-
changing plays seem to follow.
Yes, there will be plenty of well-deserved talk about running back Cam Skattebo, who ran wild
for the Arizona State Sun Devils and had an incredible afternoon.
But Robinson engineered the turning point play in Saturday’s Big 12 Championship game at
AT&T Stadium, which became a 45-17 Sun Devils victory.
Iowa State (10-3) was down 24-10 at halftime but had the football to start the third quarter.
Coaches will tell you that when a team is down, it’s a swing moment in a game.
Score on that drive, and it’s a whole new ball game. Fail to score on that drive, and, well, it’s still
a two-score game.
Turn the ball over on that drive? Well, you’re probably done.
On the fifth play of that drive, the Cyclones were done. Running back Abu Sama had the ball,
but Robinson jarred it loose. His teammate, Jeffrey Clark, recovered it, and the Sun Devils
marched down the field for a touchdown and a 31-10 lead.
From that point on, the game was a runaway train, and if one using that analogy, Robinson was
the fuel that propelled the Sun Devils into blowout territory — and into the College Football
Playoff for the first time in school history.
“That was a huge takeaway,” ASU coach Kenny Dillingham said. “But the thing that was
exciting was that we made a few adjustments to combat their ‘check with me’ stuff. The fact that
our guys could go out there and take what we talked about at halftime, apply it, and then
capitalize it, that’s a good football team.”
Thing is, Robinson has done this before. In fact, he’s a big reason why the Sun Devils made it to
Arlington.
Two weeks ago against BYU, this trip to Arlington was on the line against BYU. The winner
wasn’t in per se, but the winner definitely had more control of its destiny.
With under two minutes to play, Robinson picked off BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff and helped
the Sun Devils secure the win.
Arizona State’s defense did a number on Iowa State. The Sun Devils held ISU to 341 total yards,
forced three turnovers and stymied the Cyclones on critical drives.
Let’s not forget the Sun Devil offense. Skattebo rushed for 170 yards and two touchdowns,
caught two passes for 38 yards and a touchdown, and made one last case for a Heisman invite. He
won’t win, but Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark would love to have another Big 12 player in
New York next week alongside Colorado’s Travis Hunter.
Quarterback Sam Leavitt threw for 219 yards and three touchdowns. Without top receiver Jordyn
Tyson, the Sun Devils were just fine with Melquan Stovall, who had four catches for 91 yards.
But defense wins championships, and this Arizona State outfit looks primed to do damage. If
Yormark has his way, the Sun Devils will get some time off before a CFP quarterfinal game.
But, even if Arizona State has to go on the road, their defense is built for these games.
The Sun Devils proved that again on Saturday.
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.
