With the knowledge of UCLA's loss earlier in the day to Utah, ASU once again controlled their own destiny. The first step in reclaiming their position atop the Pac-12 South.
They wasted little time facing Washington State in the snow.
Jamal Miles took the opening kickoff 95-yards for the touchdown, his 10th score of the year.
The Cougars answered back with a big play of their own. On their second series, Connor Halliday, subbing in at quarterback for Marshall Lobbestael, connected with a wide open Marquess Wilson for an 85-yard touchdown. On the play, Deveron Carr bit hard on the underneath route, and safety Keelan Johnson was beaten to the wrong side. Thankfully, the extra point was botched by the Cougars, allowing ASU to hold onto the lead.
Both offenses struggled for the remainder of the first quarter, allowing the Sun Devils did generate some momentum near the end, which resulted in a 39-yard Alex Garoutte field goal early in the second quarter.
Undaunted, the Cougars responded. Thanks to a 31-yard connection from Halliday to Isiah Barton, they were able to march into ASU territory and get their own 39-yard field goal to narrow the margin to one at 10-9.
The Sun Devil defense was able to hold firm and force a Cougar punt from within their own 10-yard line, giving ASU great field position. Brock Osweiler connected for a 25-yard gain with Gerell Robinson and then a huge fourth down conversion to Mike Willie kept the drive alive. Unfortunately, it sputtered inside the five, and Garoutte's 22-yard field goal extended the ASU lead once again.
ASU continued to struggle mightily on offense. Offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone continued pass after pass and with Osweiler struggling, the results were predictable.
Halliday then marched the Cougars on a 74-yard, eight play drive that ended with a beautifully thrown 18-yard score, once again to Wilson to give the Cougars the 16-13 lead.
Thankfully, the fear of Miles led to a bad kickoff and ASU took over at their own 44. Three quick completion, including a 24-yarder to Robinson got the Devils down to the two-yard line, where Marshall was able to pound it in for the 20-16 lead.