21 hours ago 1

Last-minute touchdown lifts Mississippi State over No. 12 Arizona State in Starkville

Arizona State marched 95 yards in 15 plays while chewing nearly nine minutes of clock with a 17-17 game hanging in the balance at Mississippi State.

Then Bulldogs linebacker Nic Mitchell shot the gap and stuffed ASU running back Kanye Udoh at the 1-yard line.

Sun Devils head coach Kenny Dillingham opted for an 18-yard field goal. He trusted his defense to steer his team away from a Week 2 upset, a season removed from its Big 12 championship and College Football Playoff appearance.

Unfortunately for Dillingham, his defense didn't honor that trust.

Mississippi State quarterback Blake Shapen turned into a maestro, orchestrating a masterful two-minute drill. He completed a pair of 9-yard passes, and then came the haymaker: a 58-yard connection, made possible by a breakdown in Sun Devils coverage, to senior Brenen Thompson.

Just like that, in five plays and only 30 seconds of game time, Mississippi State stole the lead.

An already-raucous, cowbell-ringing crowd at Davis Wade Stadium nearly drowned out the broadcast after ASU quarterback Sam Leavitt sailed a pass for wide receiver Jordyn Tyson. The ball landed in the arms of redshirt senior safety Hunter Washington, capping a 24-20 upset win in Starkville.