Arizona State’s Sam Leavitt threw for 246 yards and the Sun Devils’ defense limited Texas State to 24 total yards in the fourth quarter during a 31-28 victory on Thursday in San Marcos, Texas.

Under coach Kenny Dillingham, Arizona State improved its record to 3-0, matching the win total set in his first season, when the Sun Devils finished 3-9 in 2023.

Leavitt completed 19 of 30 passes, threw one touchdown and was intercepted once.

The Sun Devils rallied from a 21-7 deficit thanks to touchdowns on their final two drives of the first half.

Texas State (2-1) was led by Jordan McCloud, who threw four touchdown passes and completed 29 of 44 attempts for 268 yards, with one interception.

With the score tied at 28 with 9:04 left, Texas State running back Ismail Mahdi gave the ball away on a 12-yard run. The fumble was forced by Shamari Simmons and was recovered by the Sun Devils’ Justin Wodtly at the Texas State 23.

Arizona State turned the turnover into a 22-yard field goal by Ian Hershey with 6:31 left.

McCloud was then intercepted by Xavion Alford at the Arizona State 25-yard line.

Texas State’s next offense ended with an incomplete pass from McCloud on fourth-and-5 at the Bobcats’ 20-yard line with 2:09 left on the clock.

Cam Skattebo, who ran for 62 yards on 14 attempts and scored two touchdowns, sealed the game by running 9 yards for a first down on third-and-8 at the Texas State 18-yard line with 1:57 left.

The Bobcats got the ball back with one second left on the clock at their own 30-yard line, but a lateral play resulted in a lost fumble.

Texas State had 373 yards of total offense early in the fourth quarter. The fourth quarter possessions ended with a fumble, an interception, a turnover on downs and a fumble.

After Texas State took a two-touchdown lead with 5:16 left in the first half, Arizona State threw 75 yards on four plays in 1:30, highlighted by a 52-yard touchdown pass from Leavitt to Jordyn Tyson.

Texas State’s three-and-out gave the Sun Devils control of the ball at their own 43-yard line with 2:38 left until halftime.

Leavitt completed 5 of 6 passes for 44 yards on the drive before scoring on a 7-yard run with six seconds left until halftime.

McCloud completed 5 of 6 passing attempts in the third quarter, capping it off with a 44-yard touchdown to Jaden Williams to put Texas State up 28-21 with 4:18 left in the period.

Arizona State answered on its next possession with a 2-yard touchdown run by Skattebo with 2:18 left in the quarter. Leavitt’s 40-yard run helped set up the score.

–Field Level Media