Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo's impressive season has been darting under the radar, much like the rest of the program, for most of the year.
But back-to-back wins over ranked opponents has ASU squarely in the spotlight entering Week 14, rivalry week, and Skattebo's legs will draw a lot of eyeballs against Arizona on Saturday.
The national spotlight circled him for a couple weeks earlier in the year, when he was the only other FBS rusher anywhere close to Boise State's Ashton Jeanty. Obviously, the Broncos' stud running back has pulled way ahead and is a clear favorite to be named a Heisman Trophy finalist in December.
However, Skattebo's late-season surge has shot him back into the same conversation and it isn't by any hot-take pundits.
Cam Skattebo is still in contention for the Heisman Trophy in Week 14
According to ESPN, Skattebo was voted No. 5 in the network's Heisman watch for Week 14. He trails Oregon quarterback Dillon Gabriel, Miami quarterback Cam Ward, Jeanty and Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter - the odds on favorite to win the award.
Skattebo's 1,681 all-purpose yards (1,221 rushing and 460 receiving) are second in the nation behind only Jeanty. That's overly impressive considering he missed one game with injury and sat out two fourth quarters in blowout wins.
Cam Skattebo is UNSTOPPABLE 🔥 @ASUFootball @camskattebo5 pic.twitter.com/fsTXxLpR5n
— Cronkite News: Phoenix Sports (@sportscronkite) November 26, 2024
He's also been a boon to ASU's overall success this season, accounting for 38.2 percent of the team's total offensive yardage this season alone. The Sacramento State transfer from two seasons ago has a bright future ahead of him and it would be surprising to not see him selected in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Saturday's matchup with in-state rival Arizona in the Territorial Cup will be a massive test of Skattebo's value and the team's resilience in the face of a potential berth to the Big 12 Championship game. The program hasn't competed for a conference title since 2013 when it was still a member of the Pac-12.
Barring a disastrous performance against the Wildcats, Skattebo should find himself at least in the conversation as a dark horse candidate for the Heisman Trophy entering conference championship weekend.