Few players had a more sensational year than Cam Skattebo did for Arizona State. He finished the regular season eighth in rushing yards despite missing a game and, at times, single handedly powered the Sun Devils offense to a Big 12 chanmpionship and a first round bye in the College Football Playoff.
Despite all this, Skattebo was not invited to the Heisman ceremony in New York, though he did finish fifth in Heisman voting. The actual Heisman winner had no playoff game to participate in, while runner-up Ashton Jeanty lost big to Penn State in yesterday's Fiesta Bowl with a pedestrian (for him) performance.
While Skattebo's team also lost their playoff game, it was not for lack of heart. Arizona State fell to Texas in double overtime of the Peach Bowl, but Skattebo had the best game of his career in the loss. It was tough sledding early on for the Sun Devils, and Skattebo was physically ill on the sideline too.
"Vomiting profusely" is not a great status update for Cam Skattebo pic.twitter.com/um2d0dbhVJ
— CJ Fogler 🫡 (@cjzero) January 1, 2025
After the game, Skattebo revealed that he had been battling flu symptoms and drank water too quickly, leading to his vomiting. But it became a remarkable moment later on, when Skattebo made several huge plays to bring the Sun Devils back in the fourth quarter.
First, there was Skattebo getting a chance to throw the ball on a huge fourth down and dropping a 42-yard bomb for a touchdown.
CAM SKATTEBO WITH THE 42-YARD TD PASS ON FOURTH DOWN 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/CksEs2NL4K
— ESPN (@espn) January 1, 2025
Later, Skattebo hauled in a huge pass through pass interference and delivered a vicious stiff arm to get it inside the five.
RB1
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) January 1, 2025
QB1
WR1
CAM SKATTEBO IS THAT DUDEpic.twitter.com/aQrKQ9Zu3q
Just a few plays after that catch-and-run, Skattebo had his number called again. He ran in for a touchdown and then hit the two point conversion to tie the game.
CAM SKATTEBO WITH THE TD AND 2-PT CONVERSION‼️
— ESPN (@espn) January 1, 2025
ALL. TIED. UP. pic.twitter.com/ZizYnUcIMq
Skattebo finished the game with 42 passing yards, 143 rushing yards, and 99 receiving yards with three total touchdowns. His phenomenal play in such a high stakes game earned plenty of attention online.
Cam Skattebo today pic.twitter.com/kUbTSsPMj3
— College Football Live (@CollegeFBonX) January 1, 2025
Cam Skattebo is him pic.twitter.com/QxvHyo8oZx
— McNeil (@Reflog_18) January 1, 2025
Me: I really don’t care about this early game
— McNeil (@Reflog_18) January 1, 2025
Also Me after watching Cam Skattebo: pic.twitter.com/4SyvZFTiRs
Cam Skattebo after this game pic.twitter.com/7KRQifLbzV
— Cole Adams (@coleadamss) January 1, 2025
Eno Benjamin, whose program record for single-season ruhsing yards was broken by Skattebo in the Peach Bowl, offered his full-throated support for the legend of Skattebo.
Eno Benjamin: “Retire No. 4.”
— Justin LaCertosa (@LaCertosaSports) January 1, 2025
Cam Skattebo just broke Benjamin’s single season record for rushing yards in a season at ASU and is having one helluva afternoon.@DevilsDigest pic.twitter.com/ZPg6n1zlRH
The Big Sky conference, whose Sacramento State program Skattebo initially played for before transferring to Arizona State two years ago, even got in on the fun.
Remembering all those Cam Skattebo highlights we used to post back in the day pic.twitter.com/rnoWk3eMsm
— Big Sky Conference (@BigSkyConf) January 1, 2025
NFL insider Jordan Schultz also chimed in with some notes from an anonymous leaguer talent evaluator.
For all the Cam Skattebo doubters out there, here’s a fun note from an NFL scout: “Not sure what he’s gonna run, nor do I care. You can’t bring the dude down. That’s a skill that translates to the pro level.”
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) January 1, 2025
Appropriately, Skattebo was later named the Peach Bowl MVP despite his team losing the game. There is no better way to recognize the sensational performance he had in this playoff battle, and Skattebo is sure to go down as an all-time great for both Arizona State and the sport of college football.
Cam Skattebo won Peach Bowl MVP in a loss.
— Chris Karpman (@ChrisKarpman) January 1, 2025
He is the most special RB I’ve ever seen at ASU and today he set the team’s all-time single-season rushing record. pic.twitter.com/VNUunx8EIm