They came into Davis Wade Stadium as the victors of Week 1’s promise, cocky No. 12 Arizona State, having dispatched Northern Arizona 38‑19. They stood atop the Big 12 power rankings, holding first‑place votes, riding high on Sam Leavitt’s arm and Jordyn Tyson’s hands. Their passion was raw; their expectations, sky‑high
Across the field, the Bulldogs of Mississippi State—a team mired in last season’s 2‑10 disaster, a franchise craving direction—all but ignored by the polls and written off by pundits. None of the predictions foresaw this; simulations had ASU winning comfortably, projections gave them 73 percent win probability
The first half unfolded as many expected: MSSU came charging with a spark, racking up 17 points before Arizona State even found its rhythm. The Sun Devils, by halftime, had lumbered to just 95 yards and 0 points. Only three measly Bulldogs points appeared on the board, but those were seeds of belief sown in hostile turf
At the half, the scoreboard read: Bulldogs 17, Sun Devils 0. It was a shock to the system, a crucible not many expected them to survive. But that second half belonged to Arizona State—or so it seemed.
Leavitt rallied the offense; over the final two quarters, ASU turned the tide. The Sun Devils clawed back with grit: they manufactured sustained drives, imposed their will, tied the game. Somehow, they moved the chains as though defying gravity, draining the clock, shutting down Bulldog momentum. Tyranny of yardage, creativity in the red zone, unshakable focus. Eventually, 20 straight points. Jesus Gomez’s 18‑yard field goal with 1:38 remaining flipped the script. Sun Devils 20, Bulldogs 17
Arizona State dared to believe. It seemed, if not destined, then possible, that they’d escape Starkville with a win. The stadium fell into nervous silence with 41 seconds left, the Sun Devil fans holding on to hope, feeling the weight of an epic comeback. Mississippi State’s defense stood fragile, but they stood—but barely.
Then, with 30 seconds left, everything changed. Blake Shapen, returning under pressure, made a play no one could script. He launched a 58‑yard bomb—long, soaring, perfect—to Brenen Thompson. Thompson caught it inside the 25, turned on burners, and dashed into the end zone. In flash, the lead evaporated. Bulldogs 24, Sun Devils 20. The iconic play—the entirety of the season’s narrative—reset.
Sparks flew. The drama erupted into pandemonium. Mississippi State fans flooded the field, ringing their cowbells, tearing down the goalposts in euphoria. Celebrations framed the moment—not just a touchdown, but a reclaiming of identity after their long, painful 2024. The shockwaves reflected more than a win—they marked redemption
Arizona State stood on the field, stunned, breathless. Their comeback went half the distance, then chaos swallowed the rest. Sam Leavitt ended his day with 82 passing yards, two interceptions—a stat line hardly befitting the effort, but telling of how the night fell apart Raleek Brown had racked up 110 rushing yards, Kanye Udoh added 105—momentum in pieces couldn’t be denied
Mississippi State, on the other hand, saw Shapen finish 19 of 33 for 279 yards and three touchdowns, including that blow‑the‑roof‑off strike, while running was kept contained but enough
And so, Arizona State’s number was called. Their flaws on display: early lethargy, breakdowns in coverage when it counted most, wasted opportunities when they had a lead. In the second half, life emerged—too little, too late. The defense had folded under pressure; a single blown coverage cost them everything
In losing 24‑20, they tumbled from power to fallen midair, dreams dashed—or at least delayed. Meanwhile, Mississippi State snapped every negative storyline from last year with one gut‑punching victory. It marked the first time since 1991 they’d beaten a ranked non‑conference opponent at home. In that moment, coaches’ voices earned nuance, fan chants earned strength. Jeff Lebby, the new head coach, earned his marquee win. They would find hope amid desolation
Arizona State, meanwhile, had simply seen three quarters of their destiny slip away. The second half was rewrite worthy, but the final sentence belonged to Mississippi State. All the statistics, the adrenaline, the comeback—the storytelling built on it—crashed against one play that defined the night.
In Starkville, in the echo of collapsing goalposts, a tale was told: great things can be built again. For Arizona State, a humbling moment arrived on the heels of a performance both beautiful and brutal. And as fans departed, some basked in the horror of what might have been, others in jubilation over what had become real.
This was not just an upset—it was the kind that remakes seasons. One play, one catch, one stunned hush, turned into roars that will echo for years. Mississippi State awakened. Arizona State woke up, stunned, to a lesson in letting go of control. And in the end, college football delivered its cruel, beautiful gift: chaos, crowned on the road.
