The Arizona State Sun Devils (8-3,6-2 Big12) met rivals University of Arizona Wildcats (8-3, 5-3 Big12) in a big clash to end the season.

Both teams were coming off dominating wins, with ASU beating Colorado 42-17, while Arizona beat Baylor 41-17.

The Wildcats had won four in a row, while the Sun Devils were riding a three-game winning streak.

The Wildcats were ranked No. 25 in the nation, while the Sun Devils were ranked No. 20, with a chance at the Big 12 Championship.

The chances were slim for the Big 12 as the Sun Devils needed to win, alongside major key upsets to Texas Tech and BYU to sneak in.

ASU was also playing for a bowl game.

“I’d say it’s crazy,” ASU tight end Chamon Metayer said. “Seeing the growth of the program. First year, being 3-9, it was bad. But now we only had four losses. All these guys and people in the locker room here, the standard has just changed.”

Still, the Devils were looking to beat their rivals regardless of other outcomes.

It would be difficult, as Arizona quarterback Noah Fifita had thrown eight touchdowns to only one interception in the last four games.

“The kid’s been there for three years,” ASU head coach Kenny Dillingham said regarding Fifita. “They have a really good quarterback. That kid has been there for three years. He led that team to a 10-win year before.”

After an ASU punt to begin the game, Arizona went on a long drive, but Arizona running back Quincy Craig fumbled the ball on ASU’s six-yard line, and The Sun Devils recovered the ball, getting a big defensive stop and the ball back.

Arizona got the ball back, and after a nine-play drive, Arizona kicker Michael Salgado-Medina attempted a 45-yard field goal, but it was no good.

Entering the second quarter, neither team had broken through, as the game remained scoreless.

“We’re all cut from the same cloth,” ASU wide receiver Malik McClain said. “That’s why we fight so hard for each other. This season just leading up to this point, just being cut from the same cloth with these guys, it’s blood in and blood out.”

Early in the second quarter, ASU quarterback Jeff Sims threw an interception in ASU territory, giving Arizona prime field position, but ASU’s defense forced a three and out, forcing Arizona to punt.

“One moment does not define a football team,” Dillingham said. “It doesn’t define the direction we’re going, and it doesn’t define the excitement of us.”

It looked like this game was headed towards a defensive grind.

On the very next drive though, ASU broke the ice, going for a 90-yard drive before Sims took it himself for a 29-yard touchdown, making it 7-0 in favor of the Sun Devils.

“They’re Sun Devils,” Dillingham said regarding the team. “They want to be Sun Devils, they chose to be Sun Devils, they’re going to be Sun Devils for life. And they’re good Sun Devils. They’re one of the most fun teams that this fanbase has seen in the last 30 years here. That’s what it is.”

Arizona went down the field and got into ASU’s redzone, but ASU’s defense forced a major defensive stop.

“First two, three drives, we just wanted to get our feet right,” ASU linebacker Jordan Crook said. “For the most part, we were able to deliver some good stops and play some good defense.”

Salgado-Medina lined up for a 42-yard field goal, but it was blocked by ASU.

After a lengthy drive, Jesus Gomez attempted a 49-yard field goal for ASU, but it doinked off the crossbar, keeping it as a one-score game.

With only 41 seconds remaining, it looked like ASU intercepted Fifita, but an offsides call ruled it out, giving Arizona a chance to score before the half.

With seven seconds left, Salgado-Medina lined up for his third field goal from 47-yards out.

It went through the uprights to make the game 7-3, and that was the scoreline entering the second half.

Early into the third quarter, ASU fumbled the ball deep in their own territory, and Arizona recovered.

The Wildcats capitalized, as Fifita found Cam Barmore for a nine-yard touchdown pass to make it 10-7 in favor of Arizona.

Arizona soon got the ball back, but ASU’s defense forced another field goal, which Salgado-Medina missed from 48 yards out.

The score remained 10-7, but Arizona’s missed field goals had cost them nine points.

Sims looked deep downfield and threw a rocket down the field for Jaren Hamilton, but Arizona cornerback Treydan Stukes leaped over Hamilton to haul in a pick.

“Jeff (Sims) is an unbelievable human being,” Dillingham said. “He has all the ability in the world. I feel for him tonight, I really do. He’s a guy that’s going to be successful in life. I just have so much respect and love- he’s just a good human being.”

Arizona drove down the field, and once again, they were forced to kick a field goal, this time from 49 yards away.

Salgado-Medina drilled it through, making it a 13-7 game.

The game had been drawn to a stalemate, with ASU not being able to get much going, while Arizona was always forced to try and settle for three.

Entering the final 15 minutes of the game, would likely be determined by which defense could hold up better.

“We found ourselves on the field a lot,” Crook said. “It’s a matter of adjusting. Back against the wall, not letting them score regardless of if we’re out there for 40 minutes, 20 minutes, five minutes. Five plays, 60 plays, 40 plays, we go out there and give our all.”

Arizona was able to get into ASU’s redzone, but ASU held the fort, forcing a field goal.

A chip shot from 29–yards out, Salgado-Medina drilled it to make 16-7.

“The moment sucks,” Dillingham said.  “Anybody that doesn’t appreciate those guys and their body of work, man- you just don’t like kids. They wanted to be Sun Devils; they stayed as Sun Devils. I’m so proud of that group.”

ASU was down two scores, and the offense hadn’t found its rhythm at all.

Fortunately for the offense, they drove down the field and into Arizona’s red zone.

Unfortunately for ASU, Sims fumbled the football and Arizona recovered.

“The challenge was us,” Metayer said. “We just had to get in our own way. By the time we kind of figured it out, it was too late. That’s just the game of football. Gotta help the defense out.”

Arizona drove down the field, taking their time, before sealing the game with a one-yard touchdown run by Kedrick Reescano to make it 23-7.

“Five turnovers,” Dillingham said. “That’s a lot. We gave them short fields. We didn’t get them to punt enough. They stopped the run pretty well. We didn’t have enough plays, and when your time of possession is 40 minutes to 19 (minutes), that’s because of turnovers.”

The game ended with that scoreline, ASU lost to their rivals.

Arizona students chanted “U of A!” as the game ended.

“That’s the best part about this game is you have repercussions,” Dillingham said. “For a year, right? I get to hear about it. It defines being able to talk shit for a year, that sucks.”

Despite the loss, ASU will still have a bowl game.

“Through all the adversity,” Dillingham said. “We took a team that was dead and did something that hasn’t been done since they were six, seven, eight years old. Now we have an opportunity to get 20 wins in the last two years.”

ASU will wait for its official bowl game, while Arizona is expected to play in the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl.