No. 14 Arizona State Dominates Arizona 49-7 to Clinch Pac-12 South Title
TUCSON, Ariz. — The No. 14 Arizona State Sun Devils left no doubt about their supremacy on Saturday night, overwhelming in-state rival Arizona 49-7 in a decisive victory that not only preserved their dominance in the Territorial Cup rivalry, but also clinched them the Pac-12 South Division title.
With the win, Arizona State improved to 10-2 overall and 8-1 in Pac-12 play, securing their spot in the Pac-12 Championship Game. The Sun Devils will now face No. 5 Washington in Las Vegas for a shot at the conference crown and a possible berth in a New Year’s Six bowl.
Total Domination from Start to Finish
From the opening kickoff, Arizona State imposed its will. Quarterback Jaden Rashada threw for 312 yards and four touchdowns, including two deep strikes to senior wideout Elijhah Badger, who finished with 134 receiving yards on just five catches.
Running back Cameron Skattebo added another dimension to the offense, racking up 122 yards on the ground and two touchdowns. The offensive line controlled the line of scrimmage, allowing ASU to average over six yards per play.
On the other side of the ball, the Sun Devils’ defense suffocated the Wildcats all night. Arizona didn’t cross midfield until late in the third quarter and was held to just 197 total yards. ASU forced three turnovers, including a pick-six by cornerback Jordan Clark in the second quarter that stretched the lead to 28-0.
A Statement Victory in the Desert Rivalry
Head coach Kenny Dillingham praised his team’s focus and intensity, calling it their most complete performance of the season.
“You want to be playing your best football in November,” Dillingham said after the game. “And tonight, we absolutely did. We talked all week about finishing the job, about taking the next step as a program. Our guys showed up, played with purpose, and dominated from start to finish.”
The 49-7 victory is the largest margin in the history of the Territorial Cup rivalry since 1951 and marks the third straight win over Arizona for Arizona State. With the stakes as high as they’ve been in years, the Sun Devils treated this game like a playoff — and they looked the part of a championship contender.
Arizona Struggles Continue
For Arizona, the loss capped a disappointing 4-8 season under second-year coach Jedd Fisch. The Wildcats came into the game hoping to play spoiler, but were outmatched in every phase.
Quarterback Noah Fifita, who had shown promise in recent games, was under constant pressure and completed just 14 of 31 passes for 121 yards with two interceptions. The Wildcats also struggled to establish the run, managing only 59 rushing yards on the night.
“It’s a tough pill to swallow,” Fisch admitted. “This is a rivalry game. You want to show your best, and we just didn’t. Credit to Arizona State — they played like a top-15 team.”
Looking Ahead
With the Pac-12 South now wrapped up, Arizona State turns its attention to a high-stakes matchup against Washington. The Huskies, undefeated and ranked in the top five, will present the toughest challenge of the season for ASU — but with momentum firmly on their side, the Sun Devils feel they’re peaking at the right time.
“This is what we’ve worked for all season,” said linebacker Will Shaffer. “The Pac-12 Championship. Everything’s still in front of us — and we’re ready.”
Fans stormed the field after the win, hoisting players on their shoulders and celebrating a program-defining moment in Tempe. For a team that started the season just outside the Top 25 and climbed steadily with each win, this commanding performance was the perfect exclamation point on their regular season.