The Arizona State Sun Devils dominated Kansas in London on their way to a 24-17 win in the first Big 12 game for both teams of the 2026 season. For ASU, it was a game led by its defense and special teams, as Kansas struggled all afternoon to get any kind of consistency on the offensive side of the ball, which led to ASU pulling away as the game progressed.
Arizona State entered Saturday’s game looking to rebound from its Week 2 loss to Texas A&M, while Kansas was trying to do the same after falling to Missouri. In our Kansas vs. Arizona State prediction and preview, we identified the unusual travel to London as one of the biggest variables in the matchup.
This game, the first FBS football match up in London, was 14 months in the making since the game was announced to be going overseas. And both teams had offensive issues, but it was ASU’s defense and special teams taking advantage.
Arizona State vs. Kansas Close First Half
ASU’s Clayton Smith got the scoring started with a field goal in the first quarter to cap off a 10-play, 44-yard drive. Kansas was able to take the lead in the second quarter thanks to a Tate Nagy 44-yard punt return for a touchdown, as the Jayhawks took a 7-3 lead at the 11:12 mark of the second quarter.
But, late in the second quarter, a special teams mistake gave Arizona State great field position, as a Matthew Gill 17-yard punt put ASU in position at the KU 25-yard line, and Reed Harris caught a touchdown pass from Cutter Boley on the next play to make it a 10-7 game in favor of ASU with 20 seconds to go in the first half.
Second Half Mistakes
The second half began with another special teams mistake by Kansas, as Arizona State’s Jaren Hamilton returned the opening kickoff for 100 yards and a touchdown to make it a 17-7 game.
While Kansas’ defense held its own in the third quarter, the offense could never get it going, with a three-and-out, turnover on downs and missed field goal capping off the three drives in the third quarter for the Jayhawks.
And the fourth quarter got off to an even worse start with KU, with two turnovers to start each of their first two drives. Dylan Edwards fumbled the ball, which led to Cutter Boley rushing it it from one yard out for a 24-7 Sun Devils lead. And then, Isaiah Marshall was intercepted on the next drive.
KU’s next drive did result in a touchdown, as Isaiah Marshall found Tate Nagy on a short pass, with Nagy taking it 38 yards in for a score to make it a 24-14 game. After forcing a punt, Kansas did then add a Martin Connington 46-yard field goal with 3:51 left to make it a one-score game. However, it was Cutter Boley running for a 1st down on 3rd and 5 to seal the 24-17 win for Arizona State just before the two-minute warning.
Boley wasn’t great, finishing 11/23 for 95 yards and one touchdown, while rushing for 25. But the quarterback was clutch when it mattered most in the first Big 12 game of the season. On the other side, Isaiah Marshall was 17/33 for 235 yards, one touchdown and one interception, while rushing for 52 yards. Kansas losing the turnover battle 3-0, along with special teams mistakes, was the difference in this game in London.
With the loss, Kansas has now lost two in a row to fall to 1-2 on the season, while Arizona State improves to 2-1. Both teams have next Saturday off, before playing again on Saturday, October 3rd. Kansas will host Middle Tennessee, and Arizona State will take on Baylor.
