TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Jesus Gomez kicked a 23-yard field goal with 1:14 left and Arizona State rallied from a 17-point deficit to beat No. 24 TCU 27-24. The Sun Devils were down 17-0 in the second quarter before rallying behind Sam Leavitt and Jordyn Tyson. Leavitt threw his second touchdown pass to Tyson, from 4 yards with 1:50 left, and Prince Dorbuh followed with a strip sack of TCU’s Josh Hoover, setting up Arizona State at TCU’s 15. Gomez, who missed two earlier field goals, split the uprights after the Sun Devils originally lined up to go for it on fourth-and-inches. Arizona State’s Martell Hughes sealed it with the second interception of Hoover.
UNDATED (AP) — No. 14 Iowa State and Arizona meet Saturday for the first time since 1968. They are now undefeated Big 12 opponents. Iowa State has trailed for only 28 seconds this season and is looking to start 5-0 for the second year in a a row. The 3-0 Wildcats are sixth nationally in scoring defense allowing 8.7 points a game, and seventh allowing 222 total yards a game. No. 24 TCU plays Friday night at defending Big 12 champion Arizona State, which won its league opener on a game-ending field goal at Baylor.
PROVO, Utah (AP) — BYU built its football reputation on high-flying passing offenses. Now the Cougars are finding success with a potent running attack. No. 25 BYU enters its Big 12 opener against Colorado on Saturday leading the conference with 265.67 rushing yards per game and 6.48 yards per carry. BYU ranks in the top 15 nationally in the same categories. Only two seasons ago, the Cougars finished 13th out of 14 Big 12 teams in rushing offense. BYU rose to eighth in the league last season behind a per-game average of 161.0 yards on the ground. LJ Martin has led the way, becoming the second BYU player to start a season with three straight 100-yard games.
AVONDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Arizona football coach Brent Brennan used his team's off week to do a little recruiting and take a spin around Phoenix Raceway in a NASCAR vehicle. On the field, the Wildcats have bounced back from a shaky first season under Brennan with their best start since 2015. Arizona followed up wins over lower-tier teams with a victory over Kansas State and enters Saturday's game at No. 14 Iowa State at 4-0. Off the field, Brennan put his redline mantra for the football team to the test on the track, taking in a few laps around Phoenix Raceway as part of a collaboration between the department and the track.
BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Ralphie VII, the new live mascot for the Colorado Buffaloes, has made her debut, thrilling fans at Folsom Field. The year-old bison, weighing 700 pounds, ran across the field last weekend, marking the return of one of college football's beloved live animal mascots. Ralphie VII had missed the first two home games as she got up to speed. Live mascots like Ralphie inspire fans and foster deep connections with their teams. Other famous live mascots include Georgia's Uga, Texas' Bevo, and LSU's Mike the Tiger, each with their own unique traditions and fan followings.
