Amidst the fervor around conference championship weekend, one matchup has perhaps been an afterthought within the masses. The Big 12 Championship Game may not be the most star-studded affair or involve historically storied programs. However, it may be the one with the most riding on it. Iowa State and Arizona State take to the field in Jerry’s World in the noon slate. There is more than the proverbial crown to the Big 12 at stake. The winner elongates their season by securing a ticket to the inaugural 12-team CFP. 

This shall be the first-ever meeting between these schools. Fair to say neither thought it to come at this juncture. The traversal of both these teams through the season has exceeded expectations. The Iowa State Cyclones have breached past the abyss of mediocrity they found themselves in. It seemed like floating around .500 or worse is perpetual. That has changed, and QB Rocco Becht has been a key proponent of this upturn.

Rocco, son of NFL veteran tight end Anthony Becht, got his opportunity as a starter under wretched circumstances. As a redshirt freshman in 2023, he was deputy to Hunter Dekkers. However, a categorically heinous gambling scandal involving Dekkers meant Becht was thrust into the starting role. Becht hasn’t looked back since. His dad relayed just how thrilled he is in the lead-up to the biggest game of Rocco’s young career.

“To do what Rocco is doing, you know, there’s a lot of buzz and a lot of excitement. In the state of Florida, in the state of West Virginia, where my wife’s family’s from, in the Philadelphia area, where all my family is. So there’s a lot of people watching Rocco, man. He’s got a lot of fans. [Including] my former players, teammates and all the teams I played”, said Anthony Becht.

However, an experienced head like his knew how to moderate the pressure on his son. Antony said, “It’s exciting, you know. They’re just proud of him. I mean, regardless of what happens in the game, man, it’s been a great run. He’s young and got a good team. This is great. It’s great for the fan base. I love it, and they deserve to be here.”

Despite his attempts, Rocco Becht is under duress. His Iowa State Cyclones haven’t made the trip to Arlington just to make up the numbers.

The fate of the Big 12 Championship and CFP berth lies on a knife-edge

As per the oddsmakers, the contest is quite evenly poised. Iowa State is a marginal +1.5 point underdog. This proximity is reflected in the stats they’ve put up. Arizona State averages 422.6 total yards per outing and 32.1 points. Iowa State is pretty much neck and neck in both categories. They conjure 419.8 and 31.2 on average in those respective categories. So, where’s the edge for ASU?

Iowa State’s offense, spearheaded by Rocco Becht, is a potent weapon. However, their defensive deficiencies have been conspicuous all year. Iowa State possesses the 2nd worst defense in the Big 12 in terms of per-game yardage allowed. It ranks a lowly 112th in the nation. ASU boasts a great run game that can be used to stretch drives and keep the offense off the gridiron for long periods.

Whether Rocco Becht and Co. emerge as Big 12 champs or not, they’ve come a long way this season. The momentum they’ve garnered will give fans a lot of hope heading into next season. Both teams will seek to leave Jerry’s world with the silverware as well as the ancillary rewards on offer– and a playoff berth, no less.