With roughly a minute remaining in the game, ASU's Javan Robinson had intercepted BYU quarterback Jake Retzlaff, returning the pick 64 yards to the BYU 7-yard line. With 21st-ranked ASU up 28-23, the game was essentially over.
Except it wasn't.
Instead of going for the kill, the Sun Devils messed around. On second-and-goal at the BYU 3-yard line, ASU quarterback Sam Leavitt tried to kill the clock, scrambling backward for a 26-yard loss and leaving 30 seconds on the clock. He did it again on third down, losing 10 yards and burning 23 seconds.
After a pair of delay-of-game penalties, Leavitt and the Sun Devils faced fourth down on the BYU 49 with seven seconds left on the clock. All Leavitt had to do was drop back and chuck the ball far enough that it landed after time expired. He took the snap and flung the ball into the stands.
Fans rushed the field, toppling one of the goalposts.
There was still a second left in the game.
After review, officials have concluded there is one second left on the clock. Here’s the view from the press box of fans leaving the field.
— Jake Seymour (@_JakeSeymour) November 24, 2024
ASU leads 28-23. pic.twitter.com/51gZRKsTBW
After a delay that lasted several minutes, the goalpost was re-erected. It was too difficult to get the fans back in the stands, which now were empty, so they were herded out of bounds for one final play. With a successful Hail Mary, Retzlaff and BYU could hand ASU one of the most embarrassing self-own losses in college football history.
Retzlaff dropped back, was pushed out of the pocket by pressure and unleashed a throw downfield. BYU receiver Chase Roberts caught it, but he was about 5 yards short of the end zone. The game was over, and at 9-2, the surprising Sun Devils had secured a victory that keeps their College Football Playoff hopes alive.
The fans rushed the field again. On the second try, the timing was right.
